Image: Azul Conecta

Ampaire, a leader in electric aviation, has signed a letter of intent to upgrade Conecta’s Grand Caravans to Ampaire Eco Caravans.

The core of the Eco Caravan is the AMP-H570 hybrid-electric powertrain and battery pack. The regional airline is a subsidiary of Azul, Brazil’s largest airline by passenger volume, departures and cities served.

The Azul Conecta order follows the first flight of the Eco Caravan in November 2022 and the announcement days later of a $9 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy to help Ampaire advance systems so that they are ready for FAA certification and series production.

Conecta’s regional network benefits from Eco Caravan

Azul Conecta serves 84 destinations within Brazil with a fleet of 27 Caravans. The Eco Caravan will meet the regional carrier’s objectives of reducing operating costs by 25 percent or more, while advancing the carrier’s sustainability objectives and seamlessly integrating into its current operations.

“We are thrilled to work with the visionary team at Azul Conecta,” said Ampaire CEO Kevin Noertker. “They are among a group of established air carriers ready to embrace a hybrid-electric solution, providing leadership for an entire industry.”

Azul ordered upgrade kits for its Caravan fleet because it sees the hybrid-electric solution as the fastest way to deploy sustainable technologies, benefiting passengers and the environment.

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