How Evio’s 810 Airliner Aims to Rescue Regional Aviation

MONTREAL, CANADA – As the regional airline industry grapples with a staggering 27% fleet reduction over the last five years, a new powerhouse has emerged from stealth to reclaim "thin" routes. Evio Inc., a Montreal-based startup backed by aerospace titans Boeing and Pratt & Whitney Canada, has unveiled the EVIO 810, a clean-sheet, 76-seat "strong hybrid" airliner designed to restore profitability to short-haul sectors that have long been abandoned by major carriers.

The company debuted in late December 2025 with a staggering 450 conditional purchase agreements and options from two undisclosed major airlines, signalling massive industry confidence in their novel propulsion architecture.

The "Strong Hybrid" Advantage

Unlike "mild hybrid" designs that simply use electric motors to assist conventional engines, Evio’s "strong hybrid" architecture flips the script. The EVIO 810 is an all-electric aircraft first; its batteries provide the primary power for high-intensity phases like takeoff and landing, significantly reducing noise and local emissions.

For the cruise phase and longer regional missions, the aircraft utilises a secondary booster system: four Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E turboprop engines.

"We could not get the economics to pencil for an operator with a mild hybrid," explained Michael Derman, CEO of Evio. "With our strong hybrid approach, the turbines function as range extenders. This allows for lower turbine utilisation, which counterintuitively, for a four-engine plane, actually slashes maintenance costs and fuel burn."

The EVIO 810 at a Glance

Solving the "Connectivity Crisis"

The timing of Evio’s launch is critical. According to data from OAG, nearly 47,000 global daily flights are under 500 miles, yet regional airlines have retired over 2,650 aircraft in recent years due to soaring maintenance costs of aging regional jets (RJs) and turboprops.

Evio forecasts a demand for 7,500 new aircraft in the 50-100 seat segment over the next two decades. By offering a fuselage wider than current regional jets and a "mainline" passenger experience, the 810 is positioned to compete directly with the aging Embraer E-Jet and CRJ fleets while offering significantly lower seat-mile costs.

Heavyweight Backing and Leadership

Evio’s credibility is bolstered by a "who’s who" of aerospace leadership. Its board includes:

Rob Dewar: The "Father of the CSeries," who led the development of what is now the Airbus A220.

Frank Cappuccio: Former head of Lockheed Martin’s legendary Skunk Works.

Al Meinzinger: President of Boeing Canada.

With Boeing providing technical support and Pratt & Whitney integrating the propulsion system, Evio is bypassing the "technology demonstrator" phase to move directly toward certification-ready test aircraft later this decade.

Multi-Mission Versatility

Beyond passenger service, Evio is pitching a defence and cargo variant of the 810. The aircraft’s megawatt-level onboard power can serve as a foundation for directed-energy systems or contingency ground power in remote regions. The cargo version is being designed to accommodate the 463L Master Pallet, the standard for military air logistics.