The new route, which begins on November 4, will offer up to three daily round-trip flights between the two airports. This marks a significant expansion for Harbour Air, as it has traditionally only operated seaplanes.

“We’re very excited to launch our first-ever wheeled flights between YVR’s South Terminal and YYJ Victoria International Airport and provide passengers with new flexible early morning and late evening commuting options,” said Chris Fordyce, Harbour Air Group’s commercial chief, in a news release.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AirlineGeeks.com.

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On Wednesday, the so-called eBeaver made its first point-to-point flight—a 45 sm journey from Harbour Air’s terminal adjacent to Vancouver International Airport (CYVR) to Pat Bay, near Victoria International Airport (CYYJ). After landing, the eBeaver had ample reserve battery power remaining, Harbour Air said. 

The Harbour Air experimental eBeaver has been converted to a lithium-ion-battery-enabled 750-hp all-electric motor manufactured by Seattle-based magniX. The airline aims to achieve certification to begin all-electric commercial flights with passengers as soon as next year.

“I am excited to report that this historic flight on the eplane went exactly as planned,” said Kory Paul, a Harbour Air test pilot and vice president of flight operations. “Our team as well as the team at magniX and Transport Canada are always closely monitoring the aircraft’s performance, and today’s flight further proved the safety and reliability of what we have built.’’

Yesterday, Harbour Air's ePlane completed it's first ever point to point flight with the support of magniX! Congrats to everyone making history yet again! We are proud and honored to be a part of the innovators in the Electric Aviation industry changing the world for the better. pic.twitter.com/HjS2oVdfZO

— magniX (@magniX) August 18, 2022

Harbour Air has been pioneering development of all-electric flight since the first successful eBeaver flight test in 2019. The company operates a de Havilland fleet of Beavers, DHC-3 Otters, and DHC-6 Twin Otters to carry local commuters and tourists.

Some exciting buzz from our ePlane team! On Aug 17, our ePlane completed its first ever point-to-point test flight! A smooth takeoff from the Fraser River in Richmond & landing at Patricia Bay. A momentous test flight for the [log]books! Learn more here: https://t.co/knosBLVMEz pic.twitter.com/IUxhvQAH2o

— Harbour Air Seaplanes (@HarbourAirLtd) August 18, 2022

The airline—which carries more than 500,000 passengers on 30,000 commercial flights per year—has set a goal to eventually convert its entire fleet to all-electric aircraft. 

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Now that Harbour Air’s electric de Havilland Beaver has completed a full-power static runup, and installed all its battery management and other new systems, the crew needs little more than Transport Canada’s signature on the test flight permits in order to launch. The company expects the airplane to slip into the water at Vancouver Harbour for its first proof-of-concept flight next Wednesday at the company’s Richmond, British Columbia, facility (YVR).

The completely rebuilt deHavilland Beaver traded its original 450-hp Pratt & Whitney R985 Wasp Junior engine for a new 750-hp all-electric magni500 propulsion system created when Harbour Air partnered with Magni for this venture. Powered by the Magni electric motor, the first Beaver flight will use no fossil fuels and create no harmful emissions. The first Beavers appeared in 1948.

Harbour Air has one of the largest all-floatplane airlines in the world, operating a 53-aircraft-strong fleet of deHavilland Beavers, Otters, Twin Otters and Cessna Caravans. The small airline plans to eventually convert its entire fleet of piston and turbine seaplanes to electric powerplants.

Powered by the current Magni electric motor, the battery technology in the Beaver as equipped is currently capable of only a 100-nm range. But that is expected to increase in the future as the technology evolves. Magni believes by 2025 this same aircraft will offer a 150-nm range, growing to 300 nm by 2030, again all without using a single drop of fossil-based fuel to directly run the engine. Industry skeptics believe short-range electric powered flights are all that this kind of airplane will ever be capable of, but short-range flights are at the heart of Harbour Air’s business model and why it carried 500,000 passengers last year.

The inaugural flight, the first ever for a seaplane retrofitted with the electric powerplant, is scheduled for Wednesday, December 11, with Harbour Air president Greg McDougall at the controls. Harbour Air’s Beaver still needs certification from Transport Canada before it becomes truly useful. Currently TC does not have a process in place to certify an electric airplane so the next steps could still pose some delays.

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Canada’s Harbour Air said last week that it wants to convert its entire fleet of seaplanes into an all-electric commercial fleet through a partnership with a U.S. company. The airline plans to use a 750-hp all electric motor being created by Redmond, Washington-based magni500 to convert its DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver, a six-passenger commercial aircraft used across Harbour Air’s route network.

Greg McDougall, founder and CEO of Harbour Air Seaplanes said, “ … we are once again pushing the boundaries of aviation by becoming the first commercial aircraft to be powered by electric propulsion. We are excited to bring commercial electric aviation to the Pacific Northwest, turning our seaplanes into ePlanes.”

By modifying existing Harbour Air aircraft with all-electric magniX propulsion systems, the newly created partnership will create the world’s first completely electric commercial seaplane fleet. A Harbour Air ePlane will have zero reliance on fossil fuels and produce zero emissions – a significant step forward in the innovation and advancement of the airline industry. This partnership follows significant milestones for both companies, including the successful testing of magniX’s 350 hp all-electric motor.

Harbour Air and magniX expect to conduct first flight tests of the all-electric aircraft in late 2019. Harbour Air is North America’s largest seaplane airline and carries more than 500,000 passengers on 30,000 commercial flights annually between hubs like Seattle and Vancouver.

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