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, where it also announced Republic Airways as a new customer for its "pre-certified" model.
Beta's strategy involves certifying its conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) Alia first to accelerate commercial operations, ahead of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) variant.
The company is extensively demonstrating Alia's real-world capabilities through numerous flights across the U.S. and Europe, aiming to prove its reliability, economics, and build customer confidence.
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.
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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.
