Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Development Drives Company's Expansion In Manassas

MANASSAS, VA — A company is expanding its presence in Manassas as it develops a hybrid-electric aircraft to provide more sustainable air travel.

At the end of September, September 30, Electra announced it will expand its Manassas facility as well as a Switzerland location to support development of its hybrid-electric EL9 Ultra Short aircraft. The company added a 15,000-square-foot hangar and 6,000-square-foot office space at Manassas Regional Airport. Electra already has a 36,000-square-foot headquarters in Manassas.

The expanded facility will provide more space for development and engineering teams. Electra has more than doubled its workforce in 2025 and will add dozens of more engineering staff in the next year.

"Electra is on a mission to transform aviation, and expanding our facilities ensures we will continue attracting the world-class engineering talent to design, develop, and commercialize our groundbreaking EL9," said Marc Allen, CEO of Electra. "We’re giving our teams the resources they need to get our Ultra Short aircraft into the hands of our customers and deliver on the promise of Direct Aviation, making regional air travel more convenient, affordable, and sustainable."

In late 2024, Electra had revealed the design of its hybrid-electric EL9 Ultra Short aircraft, which would fit nine passengers. According to the company, the aircraft uses a combination of hybrid-electric propulsion and blown-lift aerodynamics to take off and land. Electra says the plane's capabilities can improve access to underserved airports and non-traditional sites like parking lots and fields while cutting travel times and reducing emissions and noise.

The company has been doing demonstrations of a two-seat prototype for nearly two years. Electra plans to start flight testing the EL9 in 2027, to seek FAA certification credit in 2028 and 2029, and to get the airplane certified and into service in late 2029 or early 2030. The company has over 2,200 provisional orders totaling $13 billion from over 60 customers worldwide.

Much of the company's designing and testing has occurred at Manassas Regional Airport. The company's expansion comes as Manassas Regional Airport aims to have commercial flight service as early as late 2026.

"Electra reflects the very best of Manassas—an innovative company born here and growing here," said Manassas Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger in a statement. "From aviation to semiconductors, our City is proud to host private employers leading globally, while offering an excellent quality of life locally. Electra’s story proves Manassas is where world-class companies can take flight."