Watch BETA Technologies’ electric aircraft fly into NYC with passengers onboard [Video]

Electric aircraft developer BETA Technologies recently hit a notable milestone today when its ALIA CTOL plane completed its first demonstration flight with passengers onboard. The electric aircraft traveled 45 minutes before landing safely at JFK International Airport in NYC. Check out the full video from BETA below.

BETA Technologies is a fully integrated electric aircraft and systems developer based in Vermont. It’s now been four years since the company debuted its first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the ALIA–250, which has since been renamed the ALIA VTOL.

BETA has also been developing an electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) plane called the ALIA CTOL. It has flown tens of thousands of test miles en route to evaluation flights for FAA certification. As we’ve reported in the past, that aircraft is targeting full approval for commercial operations this year.

Following a Special Airworthiness Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the production-ready CTOL aircraft took to the skies for a test flight last November, piloted by BETA founder and CEO, Kyle Clark. Earlier this year, BETA flew an electric aircraft coast-to-coast from NYC to Los Angeles.s

Advertisement – scroll for more content

After BETA signed an agreement with 47G (Utah Aerospace and Defense) to establish advanced air mobility (AAM) operations in the state, it completed a demonstration flight route spanning 350 miles and six airports around Utah.

Today, BETA announced an even more important milestone, completing an all-electric flight in the ALIA CTOL aircraft into NYC with actual passengers onboard.

BETA’s CTOL electric aircraft lands in NYC with passengers

Per BETA Technologies, the successful demonstration flight took place in NYC this morning, assisted by a partnership between the electric aircraft developer and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

This was a historic flight for the young aerospace company as it was the first time its ALIA CTOL aircraft was operated with passengers onboard. The NYC-bound electric aircraft transported a pilot and four passengers, including Republic Airways President Matt Koscal and Blade Air Mobility CEO Rob Wiesenthal (pictured above).

The executives took a 45-minute, all-electric flight together aboard the ALIA CTOL aircraft from Long Island into NYC, landing safely at JFK Airport. Wiesenthal spoke about his experience onboard:

This electric aircraft flight from Long Island to New York City highlights that quiet and emission-free flight is quickly becoming a reality benefiting Blade’s fliers, local residents, and other key stakeholders. I can think of no better way to demonstrate our company’s commitment to quiet, electric aircraft commercialization than my participation on this flight as a passenger myself.

BETA pointed out that today’s milestone of electric aircraft travel with passengers onboard in NYC is the culmination of six years of rigorous testing and development. It also offers an exciting glimpse into the future of sustainable travel as BETA moves ever-closer to commercial operations in the United States. BETA founder and CEO Kyle Clark also spoke about the company’s progress:

Flying our electric aircraft into one of the world’s busiest airports, with passengers, proves advanced air mobility is not some future concept, it’s here. Today’s flight is about more than technology; it’s about innovation and connecting communities in safer, quieter, and more efficient ways. After years of rigorous safety testing in all types of environments, we’re proud to stand here with the Port Authority and the city of New York to demonstrate exactly how this aircraft can serve cities by easing congestion, reducing emissions, and increasing accessibility.

The ALIA CTOL is the first AAM aircraft to obtain a market survey certificate from the FAA, enabling BETA Technologies to conduct demonstration flights under specific safety standards before being awarded full FAA certification for commercial operations.

Aside from BETA’s milestone in NYC, fellow electric aircraft developer Archer shared similar news earlier this week, beginning demonstration flights with a pilot onboard. Could we see commercial air taxi operations in the US by 2026?

Check out BETA’s video footage of today’s NYC flight below: