Airline to invest in 100 electric planes

United Airlines is to buy 100 19-seat ES-19 electric planes from Swedish start-up Heart Aerospace.

The US carrier is eying battery-powered aircraft for regional routes.

This development is the latest in a series of such "innovation-related" announcements by United as major airlines come under pressure to cut emissions.

The U.S. carrier's venture funding arm said in a release it is also investing an undisclosed amount in the company with Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Mesa Airlines (MESA.O).

Mesa would buy an additional 100 ES-19s, subject to similar requirements, which can fly customers up to 250 miles.

The plane could enter service as soon as 2026.

Electric planes can make only short urban or commuter trips because of the size and weight of the batteries.

United could use the aircraft to connect hubs like Chicago O'Hare International Airport to smaller routes.

“With a lower cost profile you can bring back more smaller markets than were possible with the higher cost of a jet-fueled aircraft, ” said Mike Leskinen, president of United Airlines Ventures.

“We don't want to wait for 50 seats, 75 seats, 125-seat aircraft.

“We want to get involved now by investing in a company that we think has a big technological lead with the hopes of over time working with them to move the size of the aircraft to larger gauge. ”