Electra and Helsinki to study ultra-short air service across Gulf of Finland

Electra has agreed with the City of Helsinki and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences to study a possible ultra-short air service across the Gulf of Finland, linking Helsinki and Tallinn. The two cities are roughly 50 miles apart and see about 7.5 million passenger trips between them each year, according to the companies.

The study will examine passenger demand, operating economics, regulatory requirements and the infrastructure small aircraft would need to reach sites near both cities. It is expected to be finished by the end of 2026.

Electra's EL9 is a nine-passenger, hybrid-electric fixed-wing aircraft built for very short takeoff and landing, needing about 150 feet of runway. It uses distributed electric propulsion and blown-lift technology to produce extra lift at low speed. Electra applied for FAA Part 23 type certification in November 2025, and the FAA established the aircraft's certification basis in July, the company said.

A company executive called the Helsinki-Tallinn corridor a strong candidate for this kind of service, pointing to high travel demand and a short distance paired with existing friction in the journey. Haaga-Helia's president said electric aviation could change how people think about distance and connectivity between cities.

As part of the research, Haaga-Helia and Helsinki plan to look at current passenger traffic patterns, the potential effect on ticket prices, and how demand might shift by season and time of day. The parties also said they may consider a future demonstration using Electra's EL2 technology demonstrator, though that would require further agreements and regulatory approvals. Electra has said previously it expects the EL9 to enter commercial service around 2030.