- Reaction score
- 1,936
Alaska Airlines' groundbreaking partnership could soon have commuters and vacationers island-hopping in a sustainable seaglider, with the mesmerizing speed of a graceful water bug.
In January 2024, a coalition of stakeholders helped launch the Hawai'i Seaglider Initiative. The program aims to modernize Hawaii's maritime transportation network and provide reliable, clean-energy solutions to protect and minimize disruption to the islands' sacred and biodiverse ecosystems.
Alaska Airlines — which announced plans in late 2023 to merge with Hawaiian Airlines — is one of those partners collaborating with innovative developer Regent to bring the all-electric, 12-passenger seaglider to market.
Unlike traditional fixed-wing aircraft, the seaglider operates in three modes: float (when leaving the dock), hydrofoil (as it speeds up), and fly (once it hits open water). It's quieter, too, according to Regent, and has a range of over 180 miles. The company estimates that next-generation batteries could increase the length of routes to as much as 500 miles per charge.
Alaska Airlines reveals groundbreaking tech getting us closer to sustainable flight — it's more watery than we imagined
The seaglider is quieter than a traditional aircraft and has a range of over 180 miles.


