Developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in collaboration with several research and industry partners, the CE-25A carried two pilots and a flight-test engineer during its maiden piloted flight. Xinhua, citing COMAC, said the aircraft operated normally during the flight, with all performance indicators meeting expectations.
What is China’s CE-25A electric aircraft?
The CE-25A is a 10-tonne-class electric commercial aircraft designed primarily for intercity travel. It is intended to serve short-distance routes and can accommodate 19 passengers.
Its key specifications include:
- Maximum takeoff weight: 10 tonnes
- Passenger capacity: 19
- Cruising speed: 300 kmph
- Cruising altitude: 2,400 metres
- Maximum range: 400 kilometres
- Propulsion: Electric
These specifications position the CE-25A as a potential option for regional air connectivity, particularly on routes where shorter travel distances make electric aviation more practical.
According to the Global Times, the Civil Aviation Administration of China has accepted COMAC’s application for type certification. This is an important step towards obtaining regulatory approval.
US companies are also developing electric aircraft
China is not alone in pursuing electric aviation. Several US companies are developing electric and hybrid-electric aircraft aimed at regional passenger travel.
US-based Heart Aerospace unveiled a redesigned 36-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft in September 2026. The aircraft can reportedly fly up to 125 miles on battery power alone, while its range could extend to 745 miles in hybrid mode using gas turbine-powered generators, Reuters reported. The redesigned ES-36 will accommodate 36 passengers, compared with 30 in its earlier version, increasing its payload capacity by 20%.
Virginia-based startup Electra is also developing a nine-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft called the EL9 Ultra Short. The company expects the aircraft to make its maiden flight by early 2028, according to Reuters.
However, the history of electric aviation goes back much further.
The German-built Lange E1 Antares, also known as the Antares 20E, was among the world’s first commercially produced, fully electric self-launching motor gliders. Developed by Lange Aviation, the single-seat aircraft began its development journey in the 1990s and received European aviation certification in 2006.
Unlike newer projects such as Heart Aerospace’s ES-36 and Electra’s EL9, which use hybrid-electric propulsion, the Antares E1 relies entirely on electric power for its self-launching capability. Once airborne, it can retract its motor and continue flying as a glider.
