Southwest has become the newest member of the Hawaii Seaglider Initiative (HSI), a consortium that is working to ease the path for the implementation of electric seaglider transport in the Hawaiian Islands.
The initiative is centered around the seaglider under development by Rhode Island-based Regent. The company's prototype Viceroy craft, which has achieved its first flight, will be able to transport up to 12 passengers using existing battery technology, Regent says. Its range will be 180 miles with a top speed of 180 mph.
Regent Seagliders will launch from the water, first powering up on a hull, then transitioning to hydrofoil propulsion, and thereafter taking flight. The craft will operate within a wingspan of the water's surface, Regent says, allowing it to take advantage of ground effect, which is a reduction in drag that occurs when flying close to the surface.
The technology has the potential to be an affordable, environmentally friendly alternative to ferries or traditional interisland flying. A route feasibility study cited by HSI estimates that an electric seaglider ticket from Oahu to Maui could cost $30.
Regent says the Viceroy will enter service next year. The company says it has secured orders of more than 600 seagliders worth more than $9 billion from airlines and ferry operators on six continents. Among the launch customers for the craft are U.S. regional carrier Mesa Airlines, regional Hawaiian carrier Mokulele, and Southern Airways Express (Mokulele's sister regional operator on the U.S. mainland).
Strategic investors in Regent include Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines (JAL) and Mesa. Lockheed Martin and Mark Cuban Enterprises are among the startup's other investors.
The Hawaii Seaglider Initiative launched in January. The initiative plans to conduct technical, commercial and socioeconomic feasibility studies, and to pursue grant opportunities that support seaglider implementation in Hawaii.
Southwest joins existing HSI airline members Hawaiian, Alaska, United, JAL and Mokulele.
"With our membership, we will be a partner in funding a research study that will help us understand the feasibility of establishing an interisland and intraisland seaglider network in Hawaii," Southwest said.
This month, HSI will kick off a series of member-led discussion groups focused on community and culture, infrastructure, resiliency, and workforce and education, Southwest said.
Other HSI members include a variety of Hawaii-based tourism, cultural and commercial organizations.