Toff Mobility eyes regional airports for electric aircraft operations

YANGYANG, Gangwon Province — Electric aircraft operator Toff Mobility on Monday flew its Velis Electro aircraft from Yangyang International Airport on the eastern coast of Gangwon Province, marking the first time an electric plane has taken off from a commercial airport in Korea.

The aircraft flew for about 15 minutes, circling above the airport while being buffeted by gusts that slightly shook the plane. Powered by two fully charged lithium-ion batteries, it can fly for up to 80 minutes and cover a distance of about 200 kilometers.

The demonstration followed the Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology’s certification of the plane’s commercial license last November under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. It came after the commercialization of electric aviation in Europe and Australia in 2020 and in the United States in 2024.

Jaden Jung, CEO of Toff Mobility, poses next to the company's Velis Electro electric aircraft at Yangyang International Airport in Gangwon Province, Monday. Courtesy of Toff Mobility

Jaden Jung, CEO of Toff Mobility, said the flight marked “a new milestone in the Korean aviation industry.”

Meanwhile, inside the airport terminal, the scene was nearly deserted, with only two passenger flights scheduled to depart. This quiet atmosphere highlights a broader trend, as many regional airports across Korea face similar challenges, marked by weak demand, slumping revenues, and persistent financial deficits.

Toff aims to target such underused airports for future business. In line with the government’s initiative to revitalize smaller regional airports, the company plans to use idle facilities to expand its electric mobility fleet and improve connectivity to remote areas across Korea.

“Yangyang is one of the most tourist-friendly cities after Jeju Island,” Jung said. “It is also the closest airport to Ulleung Island, where a new airport for smaller aircraft with fewer than 200 seats is under construction. We can provide quick flights from Yangyang to Ulleung for travelers who currently have to spend several hours reaching the island by ship.”

However, the plan depends on the installation of charging stations for electric aircraft at local airports. None of Korea’s airports is currently equipped with such infrastructure, Jung said, compared with more than 70 airports in the U.S.

“The top priority is expanding charging infrastructure at local airports,” Jung said.

“All airports here are designed for large aircraft with around 200 seats. We currently operate two two-seater planes, but we plan to introduce aircraft with nine and 19 seats to provide transportation and logistics services. I expect the government to introduce new regulations to support the installation of charging facilities at local airports.”