Surf Air Mobility has expanded its role in supporting the introduction of electric and hybrid-electric aircraft on regional air services, with the launch on August 13 of its new Surf Air Technologies subsidiary. The new venture will collaborate with data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) specialist Palantir Technologies to develop a suite of software tools for operators and manufacturers of the new aircraft.
“SurfOS powered by Palantir’s Foundry and AI platforms will provide cutting-edge, AI-powered software infrastructure to operators of scheduled service and charter services, consumers, and aircraft manufacturers not existing today,” said Surf Air Mobility co-founder Sudhin Shahani. “SurfOS AI-powered operating systems will enable operators across the ecosystem to run their businesses more efficiently with access to more data with all types of aircraft including new electrified aircraft.”
Based in Los Angeles, Surf Air Mobility is the parent company of Surf Air, a charter flight operator that offers on-demand, short-haul regional flights. The subsidiary will operate Surf Air Mobility’s planned electric and hybrid-electric fleet, which will include both clean-sheet designs and modified legacy aircraft. For example, it is working on a hybrid-electric powertrain for the Cessna Grand Caravan and expects to receive a supplemental type certificate for the conversions in 2026.
Surf Air's Fleet Could Include eSTOL Aircraft and Sea Gliders
Earlier this year, Surf Air Mobility announced that it would add up to 90 of Electra’s hybrid eSTOL (electric short takeoff and landing) aircraft to its planned regional fleet, which it may lease to third-party operators. The company also aims to acquire Regent’s 12-seat Viceroy electric seaglider for passenger operations in Miami.
The Surf Air subsidiary has been working with Palantir since 2021 to develop software and data analytics tools for its own charter operations and its two commuter airline subsidiaries, Florida-based Southern Airways Express and Mokulele Airlines in Hawaii. Those tools have focused on aspects of operations such as crew scheduling, business intelligence, distribution, and pricing.
According to Surf Air Mobility, the charter division “has already seen improvements to its own operations and business across these categories,” the company said in a statement. For example, its revenues per trip have increased by about 25% over the last three years, which the company attributes to Palantir “leveraging deeper insights into customer behavior, preferences, and travel patterns.”
Now Surf Air Mobility aims to expand that capability to the emerging advanced air mobility industry. The company said its new Surf Air Technologies subsidiary “is focused on addressing the largest opportunities across advanced air mobility, such as dynamic pricing, revenue management, and optimal aircraft and crew utilization.”
“We’re excited to offer these software tools to over 300 of the air operator partners we work with most often to empower their businesses and meet the growing demand for more efficient regional connectivity,” said Jamie Strecker, vice president of business development for Surf Air Mobility.