Photos: Loganair
20 March 2026
Scotland’s airline Loganair has given a real-world demonstration of how an electric aircraft can transform aviation.
Loganair, Royal Mail and US company BETA Technologies officially kicked off the UK’s first real-world electric flight demonstration series today, 20 March 2026.
It features the BETA Alia CTOL (Conventional Takeoff and Landing) aircraft. The first official demonstration flight successfully connected Glasgow and Dundee, marking a “landmark day” for European aviation.
Royal Mail, which serves all 32 million UK addresses, relies heavily on Loganair’s regional network to reach the most remote communities in the Highlands and Islands. As part of its strategy to reach Net-Zero by 2040, Royal Mail giant is exploring how electric aviation can replace essential domestic flights.
“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,” said Luke Farajallah, CEO at Loganair.
Beta Alia is a conventional aircraft powered by electric motor
The Alia CTOL is an all-electric aircraft specifically designed for regional cargo and passenger operations. Its specifications make it a natural fit for Loganair’s frequent, short-hop routes:
BETA Alia in Loganair colours
The demonstration series isn’t limited to a single route. Over the coming weeks, the aircraft will carry representative letters and parcels across several key Scottish hubs to see how the technology integrates into the existing logistics network.
Planned routes include:
According to BETA Technologies, Scotland’s unique geography with short distances between island and mainland communities makes it one of the most “compelling environments” for validating electric aviation.
Happy Highlanders! The Loganair, BETA and Royal Mail team
