Key facts
- A 25-minute flight on Beta Technologies' Alia CX300 cost $5.25 in electricity.
- A comparable flight in a conventional jet-fuel plane would cost an estimated $60.
- The Alia CX300 can carry five passengers and one pilot.
- Beta Technologies is targeting short routes of 150 to 200 miles.
- The Alia CX300 has flown nearly 400 miles on a charge and stayed airborne for over five hours.
A recent flight on Beta Technologies' Alia CX300 electric aircraft highlighted the persistent challenges in making electric planes a mainstream mode of transport, despite their potential for lower operating costs and reduced emissions. The author experienced a 25-minute journey that cost approximately $5.25 in electricity, a fraction of the estimated $60 a comparable flight in a conventional jet-fuel plane would incur.
Electric aviation has long promised a revolution similar to that seen in electric cars, offering quieter flights and zero in-flight emissions. Beta Technologies, a Vermont-based company, is working towards FAA certification for its Alia CX300 by the end of 2027. The aircraft has demonstrated capabilities such as flying nearly 400 miles on a single charge and remaining airborne for over five hours.
However, the physics of battery weight remain a significant hurdle. The Alia CX300 requires nearly 3,000 pounds of batteries to fly about 300 nautical miles, whereas a conventional jet would need only about 50 pounds of fuel for a similar distance. This constraint limits the aircraft's capacity to just five passengers and one pilot, leading Beta to initially target shorter routes of 150 to 200 miles. The company is adopting a vertically integrated approach, manufacturing its own batteries, propulsion systems, aircraft, and charging technology to gain an edge. Beta Technologies went public in November 2025, raising over $1 billion in what was described as the largest founder-led industrial IPO in history.