Electric Aircraft Begin Crisscrossing Hawaii’s Islands

Beta Technologies, Surf Air Mobility, and Hawaiian Airlines begin a six-to-eight-week electric aircraft trial.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 03:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A Beta Technologies Alia CX300 prototype electric aircraft conducts a demonstration flight in Hawaii under a partnership with Surf Air Mobility. [Credit: Beta Technologies]

Key Takeaways:

Beta Technologies and Surf Air Mobility have launched 6-8 week trials of Beta's electric CX300 aircraft in Hawaii, with support from Hawaiian Airlines.
The trials aim to collect data on operational, economic, and infrastructure requirements for future interisland electric cargo and passenger service.
Hawaii is positioned as a key launch market for electric aviation, with Surf Air Mobility planning to introduce Beta's CX300 for commercial operations there first and establishing dedicated maintenance facilities.

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In the coming months, the FAA will oversee trials of precertified electric aircraft in 26 states under its eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). Hawaii is not one of them.

But the state’s residents and visitors will get a first glimpse of the technology during trial operations that began Thursday and are expected to continue for six to eight weeks.