Loganair Signs Term Sheet for Five BETA Technologies ALIA CX300 Electric Aircraft, Targeting 2029 Scottish Service Launch

What happened

[Loganair](/entities/e64f75e2c26a54fabe4f44c15cee4136) has signed a term sheet with US-based BETA Technologies to acquire five all-electric ALIA CX300 eCTOL aircraft, with an option for five additional units. The agreement was announced at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2026 and positions Loganair to become the first commercial carrier in Europe to operate an all-electric fleet, with service planned to begin across Scotland in 2029.

The deal follows a UK flight demonstration program completed in March 2026, during which a BETA ALIA aircraft conducted 23 flights over 10 days, covering more than 1,000 nautical miles across Loganair's network. The trial connected Scottish communities including Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness, Wick, and Kirkwall to validate the aircraft's real-world performance.

The ALIA CX300 is designed for short-haul operations, suited to Loganair's network where most regional sectors are under 100 miles. The aircraft uses existing airport runways and BETA's proprietary fast-charging infrastructure, which can recharge the aircraft in 20 to 40 minutes. Loganair says the transition to electric propulsion could reduce operating costs by up to 80% and eliminate in-flight emissions entirely. Luke Farajallah, Chief Executive of Loganair, called it "a truly historic moment for Loganair and for European aviation," adding that the demonstration programme "proved that electric aviation is no longer a future concept, it is a viable commercial opportunity."

How it unfolded

Industry impact & what to watch

This case sits inside a broader push by regional carriers to trial electric aircraft on the short, thin routes where scheduled turboprop and small-jet service is most exposed to fuel and emissions costs. [Loganair](/entities/e64f75e2c26a54fabe4f44c15cee4136)'s network, where most sectors run under 100 miles, is close to the operating envelope electric aircraft need today, since range and charging time still limit how far a carrier can stretch this technology beyond short hops.

A term sheet is a commercial commitment, not a delivered fleet, and the plan still depends on the CX300 reaching certification, on charging infrastructure being built out across the named Scottish airports, and on the aircraft meeting the cost and reliability figures Loganair is citing today. The next marker to watch is whether BETA Technologies secures type certification with enough runway before 2029, and whether Loganair converts any of the five optioned aircraft into firm orders as that date approaches.