Líder Aviação Promotes Electric Aircraft and HondaJet

Brazilian business aviation group Líder Aviação is highlighting its role in the emerging advanced air mobility sector with a focus on its partnership with electric aircraft developer Beta Technologies at the Catarina Aviation Show this week. At the event in São Paulo, the company is also exhibiting an example of the HondaJet, for which it is a distributor in Latin America.

In August 2025, Líder announced an agreement with U.S. start-up Beta to buy three of its aircraft, with options for another 50. Vermont-based Beta is developing the Alia 250 eVTOL model as well as the longer-range CX300, which will operate from runways.

Under the partnership arrangement signed at the LABACE show, Líder will serve as distributor for Beta in Brazil and will also provide maintenance support for the electric aircraft. Beta is aiming to certify the CX300 under Part 23 rules by early 2027, with the Alia 250 to follow around 12 months later.

According to Líder, cargo carrying flights in the new VTOL aircraft will start before passenger services. "The whole world is looking at cargo and freight, and the CX300 will be the first to address this need," Anderson Markiewicz told AIN at the Catarina show. In his view, distribution companies like UPS could continue to use trucks for 'last mile' routes but could switch to electric aircraft for 'middle mile' trips.

Replacing Helicopters

In early urban services, Markiewicz believes eVTOL models could start to replace helicopters in an evolutionary trend. "They're lower cost and lower noise," he commented, adding that as operating costs are reduced more people will be able to use the new air services. He also expects aircraft range to increase as battery technology improves and hybrid-electric aircraft come to market. 

According to Markiewicz, Brazil's aviation regulators and air traffic control agency ANAC are open to collaboration with new aircraft manufacturers pursuing certifiication. He said that multiple cities in the vast country are also positive about being early adopters of advanced air mobility. 

“The Catarina Aviation Show is an important opportunity for us to present innovative aircraft to the public that are aligned with the sector’s transformations,” said Bruna Assumpção, Líder’s executive director of business aviation. “With the representation of HondaJet and Beta Technologies, Líder brings to the Brazilian market the most modern technology, efficiency, and sustainability in air mobility.”