NYC Helitour Operator FlyNYON Orders Beta’s eVTOL Aircraft

Helitour and charter company FlyNYON on Thursday announced a “committed purchase order” for up to five Beta Technologies’ Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft. The New Jersey-based operator intends to use the five-passenger vehicles for “photo tourism” and charter flights around New York City.

Beta’s eVTOL aircraft will join FlyNYON’s existing fleet of seven Bell 206 L3 and L4 turbine helicopters, including some open-door models. Taking off daily from New Jersey’s Kearny heliport (65NJ), about five miles from Manhattan, these helicopters carry between three and six passengers and fly around New York City for 15 to 40 minutes.

“FlyNYON has demonstrated a clear commitment to urban air mobility and is offering an excellent passenger experience,” said Patrick Buckles, Beta’s head of aircraft sales. “With its quiet, low-cost, and ultra-reliable profile, our Alia aircraft will help set a new standard in safe, customer-first operations as FlyNYON looks to continue expanding and innovating.”

The FlyNYON order announcement comes on the heels of Beta’s first all-electric flight into New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) on June 3. For that passenger-carrying demonstration flight, Beta used a production-conforming prototype of its Alia CX300 airplane, a fixed-wing version of the Alia 250 that Beta aims to certify this year. FAA certification of the Alia 250 eVTOL model is expected to follow in 2026.

“Their aircraft offer a new standard in efficiency and performance, and their exceptionally quiet operations makes them particularly well-suited for the urban and regional environments we serve, allowing us to fly more neighborly,” said FlyNYON CEO Patrick Day. “This partnership supports our continued focus on delivering safe, modern, and customer-focused aerial services as we grow our fleet and expand our capabilities.”

In addition to the two Alia models, Vermont-based Beta also manufactures electric aircraft chargers and has installed them at more than 50 sites across the U.S.—not (yet) including the Kearny heliport.

The heliport’s owner and operator, Helo Holdings Inc. (HHI), previously agreed to install different chargers made by rival eVTOL aircraft developer Joby Aviation. In January 2024, Joby announced that Kearny will be its hub for future New York City air taxi operations, and HHI agreed to install Joby’s Global Electric Aviation Charging System (GEACS). Beta, on the other hand, has adopted the internationally recognized CCS standard for electric vehicles with its aircraft chargers.