FutureFlight
Blade Orders 20 Beta Alia Aircraft for Air Mobility Services
Beta Technologies refers to the six-seat Alia 250 as an "electric vertical aircraft," rather than using the standard industry term eVTOL.
Beta Alia
Beta Technologies's Alia 250 will be able to carry a pilot and five passengers on flights of up to around 288 miles. (Image: Beta Technologies)

Blade Urban Air Mobility has reached an agreement to add up to 20 of Beta Technologies’ Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft to its passenger transportation services network. The deal announced today calls for the all-electric lift-and-cruise model to join Blade’s fleet in 2024, with operations expected to start in 2025.

In the announcement, Beta refers to the Alia as an “electric vertical aircraft" (EVA) rather than using the standard industry term eVTOL. Last week, express delivery group UPS announced that it will buy 150 of the aircraft, plus some of Beta’s electric charging stations, with the first 10 aircraft due to be delivered in 2024.