Beta Technologies has released images showing some details of the passenger-carrying versions of its family of electric aircraft. The Vermont-based company said the cabin interiors, accommodating five passengers and a pilot, will be available for both the fixed-wing CX300 and Alia 250 VTOL models it has in development.
Initially, Beta is aiming to start commercial operations in 2025 with versions of the aircraft designed for carrying cargo and flying medical support missions. The first operator is likely to be express delivery giant UPS in the United Arab Emirates. The manufacturer has said that passenger-carrying flights would likely be ready to start in 2026, subject to achieving FAA type certification.
According to the company, there will be sufficient space inside both aircraft to accommodate carry-on bags as well as larger TSA-secure luggage. Both the CX300 and Alia 250 models are intended to be operated under instrument flight rules and in all weather conditions, including flights into known icing.
The newly unveiled cabin interiors have been developed by Beta’s own industrial design team, which includes specialists with past experience at established aircraft manufacturers and car makers. The company said some input for design decisions has come from both committed and prospective operators of passenger-carrying aircraft.
Prospective Operators Place Orders
In 2021, Blade became the first customer to commit to Beta’s aircraft, with a deposit-backed order for up to 20 of the eVTOL model. Other prospective sales agreements have since been signed by leasing group LCI for aircraft that will be used to carry guests to the Aria Hotels in Greece, and also by Canada-based operator Helijet.
“At Beta, we see electric aviation technology as transcending one single mission set,” said the company’s founder and CEO, Kyle Clark. “We designed Alia to be a versatile platform that has tons of capability across sectors, and now we starting to step into that vision. With their high dispatch rate and low maintenance and operational energy costs, our electric passenger aircraft will unlock new routes for operators, further increasing the size of the pie.”
In earlier assessments of missions that could be flown by the Alia aircraft, Beta found that energy costs for a flight might be around $16 to $20 for electricity, compared with jet A fuel costs of between $600 and $700 for a similar-sized turbine aircraft. The company has also predicted that maintenance costs for electric aircraft will be lower due to longer service intervals and less downtime.