HONOLULU — Surf Air Mobility and BETA Technologies launched an electric aircraft demonstration program in Hawaii June 24, 2026.
The program is in cooperation with Hawaiian Airlines, which is sharing insights on Hawaii cargo and passenger routes, participating in feasibility assessments, and supporting local community engagement activities.
Hawaiian Airlines hosted the launch event for the trial at its Charles I. Elliott Maintenance and Cargo Facility at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (PHNL), company officials noted.
BETA’s ALIA CTOL electric aircraft will conduct demonstration flights across Hawaii for the next six to eight weeks to evaluate the operational, economic, and infrastructure requirements for future electric aircraft operations in the state, company officials added.
The program brings together BETA’s electric aircraft technology, Surf Air Mobility’s regional airline expertise as Mokulele Airlines, existing Hawaii airport ground infrastructure, and more, company officials noted.
Hawaii’s short inter-island route structure and demand for regional air transportation make it an ideal environment to evaluate electric aircraft operations on a commercial scale, according to company officials.
The flight test program is expected to help answer some of the most important questions surrounding the future deployment of electric aircraft, including:
- Aircraft performance across Hawaii’s routes, weather conditions, and operating environment
- Direct operating costs and economic factors that will help determine the commercial performance of future electric aircraft operations
- Maintenance requirements and servicing needs associated with operating electric aircraft
- Battery performance, energy consumption, and operating costs
- Crew training and familiarization requirements, ground handling procedures, safety protocols, and charging infrastructure needs across the network.
“The aviation industry has talked about electric flight for years,” said Deanna White, Chief Executive Officer of Surf Air Mobility. “The question is no longer whether electric aircraft can fly, but rather how they can now be successfully integrated into commercial service. The data generated through this program will help define the operational, economic, and infrastructure requirements needed to advance the next generation of regional air transportation.”
Surf Air Mobility intends to deploy BETA aircraft throughout its Hawaii operations for both cargo and passenger missions following FAA certification.
The company has unveiled plans to establish a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Hawaii that, once certified, is expected to serve as the factory-authorized service center for BETA aircraft in the state.
For more information: BETA.team, SurfAir.com
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