BETA Flies First All-Electric Passenger Aircraft at JFK
BETA Technologies, a Vermont-based advanced air mobility (AAM) developer, has successfully completed its first passenger-carrying demonstration flight of an all-electric aircraft at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The historic event, which took place on June 3, 2025, was the culmination of six years of development and testing, and was supported by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The 45-minute flight to JFK was conducted using BETA’s ALIA conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft and carried a pilot along with four passengers. Among them were Republic Airways President Matt Koscal and Blade Air Mobility CEO Rob Wiesenthal. The successful operation of this flight at one of the world’s busiest airports represents a major milestone in the push to bring electric aviation into commercial reality.
Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said the agency is proud to help advance technologies that can make air travel more sustainable and efficient, noting the potential of electric aircraft to reduce noise, emissions, and congestion in urban airspace. BETA CEO Kyle Clark emphasized that flying into JFK with passengers proves that advanced air mobility is no longer a distant concept, but an operational reality.
The ALIA aircraft is designed for utility and environmental performance. Originally conceived to transport organs for United Therapeutics, the aircraft can carry five passengers or 1,250 pounds of cargo. It is the only AAM aircraft to have received a market survey certificate from the FAA, allowing demonstration flights before full certification.
BETA is also working to certify a vertical takeoff and landing version, the ALIA VTOL, aimed at transforming regional transport through clean, electric-powered mobility.
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