Airlines
Scotland’s Loganair Trials Beta’s Alia Electric Aircraft
Initial test flights involve mail deliveries to remote communities
Beta Technologies Alia CTOL aircraft
Scottish regional airliner Loganair is conducting a two-week trial with a prototype of Beta Technologies’ Alia CTOL electric aircraft.

Scottish regional airline Loganair is evaluating Beta Technologies’ Alia electric aircraft in a two-week trial that started on March 19 with a 60-nm flight from Glasgow to Dundee. Initially, the operator is interested in how the conventional takeoff and landing model could be used for services such as mail and urgent cargo deliveries across its network.

Announcing the partnership, Loganair did not specify whether it intends to buy any of the U.S.-made aircraft, which could have a range of up to around 250 nm. Beta is also developing an eVTOL version of the design, but is aiming to certify the CTOL model first in early or mid-2027. Several other airlines including Air New Zealand and Surf Air plan to operate Beta aircraft.