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, Surf Air Mobility, and Hawaiian Airlines have begun 6-8 week trials of the Beta CX300 electric aircraft in Hawaii.
The trials aim to collect critical data on operational, economic, and infrastructure requirements for future interisland cargo and passenger services.
Surf Air Mobility is the launch customer for Beta's CX300, planning commercial operations in Hawaii, with Hawaiian Airlines assessing its future role.
Hawaii is positioned as a key proving ground for electric aviation, ideal for evaluating commercial-scale operations despite not being part of the FAA's broader eIPP.

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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.