Canada’s Helijet Makes History with Beta eVTOL Order

An agreement with the British Columbia-based helicopter airline represents the first eVTOL purchase from a Canadian air carrier and Beta’s first sale in the country.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 04:34 PM ET

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A digital rendering of Beta’s Alia-250 eVTOL, with a Helijet livery, flying in the skies above Vancouver, British Columbia. [Courtesy: Helijet]

Key Takeaways:

Helijet International, a prominent North American helicopter airline, has placed firm orders for Beta Technologies' Alia-250 eVTOL aircraft, making it the first Canadian carrier to purchase such a design and planning to launch the country's first eVTOL passenger and cargo services.
The Alia eVTOLs will be integrated into Helijet's operations in southwest British Columbia, offering sustainable, quieter passenger flights, including to rural communities, and bolstering emergency response and air ambulance services.
Helijet is leading the development of a commercial vertiport in downtown Vancouver to support the estimated 4.2 million potential eVTOL passengers in the Greater Vancouver area over the next 15-20 years, with the Alia aircraft targeting commercial certification by 2026.

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One of North America’s oldest helicopter airlines plans to add one of aviation’s newest aircraft designs to its fleet.

Helijet International Inc. on Tuesday announced that it placed firm orders for Beta Technologies’ Alia-250 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi, becoming the first Canadian air carrier to purchase such a design. Helijet, Beta’s first commercial customer in Canada, also expects to be the first air carrier to offer eVTOL passenger and cargo services in the country.