Australia’s NTAS airline orders 20 Alice all-electric eVTOL aircraft

Northern Territory Air Services (NTAS), an Australian scheduled airline and charter aircraft operator, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for 20 Alice commuter aircraft from Eviation, a manufacturer of all-electric aircraft.

According to a statement published by Eviation, NTAS will use Alice aircraft to serve airline routes across remote areas of Australia.

“Eviation’s all-electric Alice aircraft provides us with the opportunity to chart a sustainable path forward in connecting communities across the country. With the adoption of electric aviation, we will be able to provide cost-effective and convenient passenger and cargo flights across the outback,” the airline’s chief executive Ian Scheyer said.

What do we know about Alice so far?
First unveiled at the Paris Air Show in 2019, Alice, an all-electric aircraft, is designed to carry up to 2,500 lbs. (1,134 kg) of payload for a range of up to 440 nm (815 kilometers). Powered by two magni650 electric propulsion units, the plane is expected to produce zero carbon emissions, according to the manufacturer. According to Eviation, Alice is being developed to target both commuter and cargo markets.

Alice’s launch customer DHL ordered 12 aircraft in cargo configuration in August 2021. Most recently, on September 15, 2022, Eviation announced that it had received a Letter of Intent from US-based charter airline GlobalX for a potential order of 50 Alice planes. Delivery of the aircraft is expected to begin in 2027.

The first all-electric Alice is expected to enter commercial service in 2024.