Beta’s Alia CX300: The Quiet Electric Plane Targeting Short-Haul Travel
Beta Technologies’ Alia CX300 is a five-seat electric airplane that recently flew in Vermont, illustrating a path to electrified short-haul travel. With about 250 kWh of battery providing roughly 390 miles of range under ideal conditions, it charges in about an hour and uses a modular propulsion system built in-house. Beta plans a staged certification approach—first the cTOL for short routes, then the eVTOL—while weighing charging infrastructure, certification hurdles, and cost versus fare. The company has airline partners testing real-world routes, signaling a potential shift toward cleaner, quieter regional flights if economics align.