Aviation experts hope electric planes could see the return of short flights between regional cities

Co-founder and CEO of Dovetail Electric Aviation, David Doral, said electric planes could see the return of short-haul flights, because they are cheaper to operate.

He said reducing aircraft operation costs could make shorter routes, like Wagga Wagga to Canberra, and Dubbo to Orange, more appealing to airlines. 

"The demand for regional aircraft travel could multiply by 10 if you manage to reduce the operating cost by 40 per cent or more," he said. 

"Even if they can reduce the operating cost — by the use of electric motors — substantially, it still comes back to the overall viability of flying the route," Mr Breust said

Mr Breust said regionalisation could help strengthen aviation in places like Wagga Wagga, Albury, Tamworth and Orange.