Republic Airways to evaluate an electric aircraft from BETA Technologies for regional flights

More news out of day one of the Paris Auto Show, as aerospace manufacturer BETA Technologies announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Republic Airways Holdings in which the latter will evaluate the potential of BETA’s all-electric ALIA CTOL aircraft for regional passenger and cargo flights.

Republic Airways is a regional airline based in Indianapolis that operates services for other larger US airlines like American, Delta, and United. As a regional travel provider, eVTOL and eCTOL travel are becoming genuine travel options as companies like BETA Technologies move closer to certification and commercial operations.

As reported earlier this month, BETA Technologies recently completed a flight into New York City with actual passengers aboard its ALIA CTOL (conventional takeoff and landing) aircraft. One of those passengers was Republic Airways President and Chief Commercial Officer, Matt Koscal.

Koscal must have been impressed by BETA’s ALIA CTOL, because Republic Airways and BETA announced a new agreement to evaluate the aircraft for future service, beginning later this year.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Republic Airways to test viability of BETA’s ALIA CTOL

According to BETA Technologies, it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Republic Airways Holdings Inc. Through the agreement, BETA will give Brickyard Connection, LLC., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Republic Air, access to a pre-certified ALIA CTL aircraft.

From there, Brickyard Connection and BETA will assess the aircraft’s performance, operational economics, infrastructure requirements, and overall viability for regional passenger and cargo flights. Today’s MoU news builds upon an existing relationship between BETA and Republic Airways, which could lead to bona fide regional eVTOL and eCTOL travel. Matt Koscal elaborated:

We’re excited by the opportunities Advanced Air Mobility technologies represent for regional connectivity and BETA’s innovative approach to electric flight aligns with our vision. We’ve been working with BETA for the past 18 months and continue to be impressed—not just by the performance and design of their CTOL aircraft, but by the company’s leadership, culture, and values. We look forward to exploring real-world use cases and our joint pursuit of cleaner, quieter, and more efficient air travel.

In addition to evaluating the ALIA CTOL aircraft, BETA and Republic Airways said they will also research the potential deployment of the former’s aircraft charging technology to support future operations. Per BETA, Republic Air and Brickyard Connection should gain access to the ALIA CTOL sometime in late 2025.