Matt Koscal, president of Republic Airways (left), and Kyle Clark, founder and CEO of Beta, stand in front of Beta’s all-electric Alia, on display at the Paris Air Show. [Courtesy: Beta Technologies]
Key Takeaways:
Beta Technologies' Alia made history as the first electric aircraft to fly at the Paris Air Show and announced a new partnership with Republic Airways.
Republic Airways signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to receive a "pre-certified" Alia later this year, intending to test potential passenger and cargo routes and evaluate the aircraft's economics.
Beta's strategy prioritizes certifying the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) version of Alia first to accelerate market entry for cargo and then passenger services, before transitioning to its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) variant.
PARIS—The Paris Air Show kicked off with a bang—or more accurately, a whir—as Beta Technologies’ Alia became the first electric aircraft to fly in the show’s history.
The five-seater—designed for a pilot and four passengers, plus luggage—was the first aircraft demonstration of the event. And Beta at the show announced its newest customer: Republic Airways.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
