UrbanLink has increased its order for Regent Craft’s all-electric seagliders to 47 Viceroys, up from the 27 it ordered last September. The South Florida advanced air mobility start-up plans to use the Viceroy vehicles to transport passengers in South Florida and Puerto Rico, with first deliveries expected in 2027.
The Viceroy seaglider is a wing-in-ground-effect craft designed to carry a dozen passengers on regional coastal trips of up to 180 miles, soaring emissions-free just above the water’s surface at a speed of 160 knots. Regent, which is based in Rhode Island, says the Viceroy will offer a faster, affordable, and more sustainable alternative to short-haul air travel and existing ferry services.
According to UrbanLink, Miami-based routes alone could potentially serve up to 4.3 million passengers per year. Traveling between Miami and West Palm Beach in a Viceroy seaglider would take approximately 35 minutes, whereas the 73-mile trip by road takes longer than two hours during rush hour. In a helicopter, the same trip takes about 20 minutes.
“We’re proud to expand our partnership with Regent and bring this revolutionary technology to more passengers traveling high-demand routes across Florida and Puerto Rico,” said Ed Wegel, founder and chairman of UrbanLink. “This partnership propels Florida to the forefront of global innovation in advanced, all-electric mobility.”
Regent has been conducting sea trials with a Viceroy prototype in Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay for the past two months. Because it operates on water, the Viceroy will be regulated as a maritime vessel and must be certified by the U.S. Coast Guard rather than the FAA. Regent submitted the design basis agreement for the Viceroy to the Coast Guard in March.
“UrbanLink’s expanded order is a clear vote of confidence in Regent’s seaglider technology,” said Regent co-founder and CEO Billy Thalheimer. “Together, we’re building a more convenient and connected future for coastal communities.”
In addition to Regent’s seagliders, UrbanLink plans to operate various other types of all-electric aircraft and maritime vessels. The company recently announced purchase agreements for 20 of Crisalion’s five-passenger Integrity eVTOL aircraft and up to 40 Orca hybrid-electric cargo drones from Traverse Aero. It had previously planned to operate Lilium’s eVTOL and Eviation’s Alice electric aircraft, two aircraft programs that went bust earlier this year.
Regent claims that it holds a mix of deposit-backed orders and provisional sales agreements worth more than $9 billion from civil operators in multiple countries. These prospective operators include U.S. commuter airline Southern Airways Express, UME Shipping with plans for cargo operations in the Red Sea, Ocean Flyer in New Zealand, and Croatian ferry operator Split Express.