The UK’s leading regional airline Loganair has made aviation history, completing the first-ever electric flight in Scotland alongside BETA Technologies, a U.S. electric aerospace company.
The company will fly BETA’s ALIA CTOL, a battery-powered fixed-wing aircraft, from Glasgow to Dundee, marking a breakthrough moment for low-emission, next-generation flight in Europe.
The flight scheduled for Thursday 19 March is part of a two week programme where the electric aircraft will be used across Loganair’s network demonstrating the capability of a zero emissions aircraft to deliver freight, mail and essential goods such as medical supplies.
The milestone flight signals a significant step towards decarbonising short-haul aviation, with Loganair positioning Scotland at the forefront of next-generation aircraft technology.
Luke Farajallah, CEO at Loganair, said: “This is a landmark day for European aviation, and in-particular for Scotland’s airline Loganair. We are not talking about concepts, prototypes, or distant ambition, this is a real tangible programme of flying across our network which will provide invaluable data on how an electric aircraft could perform in a real commercial environment.
“For regional airlines, the route to net zero must be practical, affordable, and operationally viable. Electric aircraft have the potential to transform short haul flying, protecting vital air links while significantly reducing carbon emissions.
For Loganair, this reflects our practical approach to sustainability - testing credible solutions that can reduce emissions while protecting the essential regional connectivity our communities rely on. As the UK’s largest and leading regional airline, we are committed to playing an active role in the transition to lower-emission aviation.”
“The trial builds on our wider sustainability efforts, including fleet modernisation, operational efficiency improvements, software implementation, and the exploration of sustainable aviation fuel. We are very excited about being at the vanguard of a greener future for aviation.”