e-Smart Group and SLI Sign Agreement to Lease Up to 20 BETA Technologies CX300 Electric Aircraft
Global air logistics platform e-Smart Group has signed an agreement with aerospace asset finance specialist SLI to acquire up to 20 BETA Technologies fully electric aircraft through an operating lease structure. The deal covers both the CX300 CTOL and A250 VTOL variants, with initial deployment planned for European air cargo operations, accelerating e-Smart's zero-emission logistics fleet expansion.
Highlights
- e-Smart Group and SLI signed an operating lease agreement covering up to 20 BETA Technologies electric aircraft for European air cargo deployment.
- The deal converts e-Smart's November 2025 purchase order into an OpEx-based structure, with SLI (Libra Group) retaining aircraft ownership.
- Aircraft types include the BETA ALIA CX300 CTOL and BETA ALIA A250 eVTOL, both fully electric and zero-emission.
- SLI holds cumulative orders for up to 190 electric aircraft and autonomous cargo drones across its portfolio.
- This agreement is among the first lease-based fleet financing deals for BETA Technologies aircraft operators.
e-Smart Group and SLI Sign Agreement to Lease Up to 20 BETA Technologies Electric Aircraft
Global air logistics platform e-Smart Group has signed an agreement with aerospace asset finance specialist SLI to acquire up to 20 BETA Technologies fully electric aircraft through a lease arrangement, with initial deployment targeted at European air cargo operations.
Agreement Details
The deal covers two aircraft variants: the BETA ALIA CX300 electric conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft and the BETA ALIA A250 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
"e-Smart signed a purchase order for up to 20 aircraft in November 2025," the company stated in a press release. "The latest agreement reached with SLI converts the original commitment into an operating lease structure, shifting the acquisition expenditure from capital expenditure (CapEx) to operating expenditure (OpEx). SLI will hold ownership of the aircraft, while e-Smart will use the assets through fixed monthly payments — a non-dilutive and flexible asset financing model."
About SLI
SLI is the aerospace subsidiary of the Libra Group, providing flexible asset financing solutions for the aviation and space industries, including advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft. SLI has accumulated orders for up to 190 electric aircraft and autonomous cargo drones. The company is committed to accelerating the widespread adoption of these emerging technologies by offering lease facilities.
This agreement with e-Smart is also among the first fleet financing deals via leasing for operators of BETA aircraft.
About e-Smart Group
e-Smart focuses on delivering logistics solutions for e-commerce and other time-sensitive industries, integrating digital logistics, cargo consolidation management, training, consultancy, and aviation services into a unified platform. Through its partnership with SLI, the asset financing model is expected to accelerate the expansion of e-Smart's global electric aircraft fleet. e-Smart anticipates that AAM aircraft will transform the logistics industry by offering zero-emission alternatives to road and rail transport.
Further Information
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