Australia’s Rex Airlines has partnered with startup Dovetail Electric Aviation to convert turbine-powered aircraft to electric propulsion, initially targeting regional and general aviation aircraft.

Dovetail was formed in 2021 by Sydney Aviation Holdings, owner of Australian tourist airline Sydney Seaplanes, and Spanish-Australia electric-aircraft startup Dante Aeronautical.

Dovetail plans to convert a Cessna Caravan to electric propulsion, targeting supplemental type certification in 2025. This is to be followed by the conversion of Caravans and Beechcraft King Airs to longer-range hydrogen-electric propulsion beginning in 2026.

Mascot, New South Wales-based Rex will provide an aircraft to Dovetail for use as a testbed. Rex also will supply engineering expertise and technical assistance as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul services.

Rex itself operates Boeing 737-800s and Saab 340s, which are not yet candidates for conversion to hydrogen propulsion, but its Pel-Air Aviation charter business operates King Airs and its Australian Airline Pilot Academy subsidiary flies King Airs and a range of light general-aviation aircraft.

“Australia, with its very high utilization of regional aviation and large number of aircraft capable of conversion, is a perfect incubator for the electric aircraft industry,” John Sharp, deputy chairman of Rex Airlines, says in a statement. “Significantly lower operating costs of electric aircraft will also help to stimulate regional aviation services between communities not currently served by scheduled flights.”