Regent Craft To Design 100-Seat Seagliders in Partnership with Hawaiian Airlines

Seagliders are boat-aircraft hybrids in a category of vehicles sometimes known by the acronym WIG, for wing-in-ground effect. They fly at low altitude over water to take advantage of the cushion of air between the wing and water that helps keep the craft airborne using less power than would be required to fly at higher altitudes like an airplane.

Many pilots are familiar with ground effect, which also causes airplanes to “float” down the runway, seemingly refusing to touch down, when landing with excess airspeed.

Regent’s seaglider designs operate like boats when leaving the harbor and use hydrofoils to lift the hull out of the water as it accelerates. The foils retract once the vehicle is flying in ground effect. Regent, which earlier this year announced a deal to build 200 smaller seagliders for Mesa Airlines, said Hawaiian Airlines becomes its first U.S.-based design partner for the Monarch with this investment.

The companies said seagliders are especially well-suited to the airline’s island-hopping operations. Designed for coastal routes, seagliders would compete with ferry boats and commuter seaplane operators. 

“Innovative interisland transportation has been core to our business since 1929 when we replaced steam ships with airplanes. We are excited to be an early investor in Regent and to be involved in developing their largest seaglider—a vehicle with great potential for Hawaii,” said Avi Mannis, Hawaiian Airlines’ chief marketing and communications officer.

Regent CEO Billy Thalheimer said close partnerships with design partners and strategic investors like Hawaiian helps the company “fully understand our operators and unlock their ability to provide zero-emission transportation solutions to their customers.”