BETA Technologies and Surf Air Mobility Launch Electric Aircraft Demonstration Program in Hawaii, with Hawaiian Airlines as Evaluation Partner

Surf Air Mobility and BETA Technologies have announced the formal launch of an electric aircraft demonstration program in Hawaii, with support from Hawaiian Airlines — a carrier belonging to the Alaska Air Group.

The program was officially announced on Thursday, with Hawaiian Airlines providing support across several key areas, including sharing operational insights on Hawaii's cargo and passenger routes, participating in feasibility assessments, and assisting with outreach to local stakeholders and communities.

Integrating Multiple Resources to Build a Demonstration Platform

The collaboration brings together BETA Technologies' electric aircraft technology, the regional aviation expertise of Surf Air Mobility's subsidiary Mokulele Airlines, Hawaii's existing airport ground infrastructure, and the SurfOS™ software platform.

Hawaiian Airlines is Hawaii's oldest and largest airline, connecting the islands, the continental United States, and international destinations across the Pacific. This landmark demonstration will generate critical data on how electric aircraft can support future cargo and passenger operations across Hawaii's inter-island network.

Surf Air Mobility CEO Deanna White said: "Aviation has been talking about electric flight for years. The question is no longer whether electric aircraft can fly — it's how to successfully integrate them into commercial service. The data generated by this program will help define the operational, economic, and infrastructure conditions needed to power the next generation of regional air transportation."

Hawaiian Airlines hosted the program launch event at its Charles I. Elliott Maintenance and Cargo Facility at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, marking a significant milestone in the introduction of next-generation aircraft into actual regional air service.

ALIA CTOL to Begin Six-to-Eight Weeks of Flight Testing

Beginning immediately, BETA's ALIA CTOL electric aircraft will conduct demonstration flights across Hawaii as part of an approximately six-to-eight-week flight test campaign, assessing the operational, economic, and infrastructure conditions required for future electric aircraft operations in the state.

Hawaii's short inter-island route structure and consistent demand for regional air transportation make it an ideal environment for evaluating electric aircraft operations at commercial scale.

BETA Technologies CEO and founder Kyle Clark said: "Connecting the Hawaiian Islands with low-cost cargo and passenger service is a perfect use case for electric advanced air mobility. These early demonstrations will directly show Surf Air the practicality and economics of the BETA ALIA aircraft, and provide a reference point for future high-frequency, sustainable inter-island service."

Key Data the Program Will Generate

The demonstration program is designed to collect data and operational experience to answer the most critical questions for future electric aircraft deployment, including:

• Aircraft performance: Behavior across Hawaii's routes, weather conditions, and operating environments
• Direct operating costs: The economic factors that will determine the commercial viability of future electric aircraft
• Maintenance requirements: Servicing and upkeep demands of electric aircraft in commercial operations
• Battery performance: Energy consumption and operating costs on typical inter-island missions
• Crew training and ground handling procedures: Including safety protocols and statewide charging infrastructure requirements

Data generated by the program will support Hawaii's broader statewide goals of advancing sustainable aviation solutions.

Hawaiian Airlines CEO Diana Birkett Rakow said: "Hawaiian Airlines carries a profound responsibility to provide essential air service, and together with Alaska Airlines, we are committed to fostering innovation and supporting technologies that can deliver a resilient future for the aviation industry. This program gives us the opportunity to understand how BETA's electric aircraft can provide safe, reliable cargo and passenger service on short-haul routes while reducing the environmental impact of flight."

Looking Ahead: Full Deployment Following FAA Certification

Surf Air Mobility plans to fully deploy BETA aircraft within its Hawaii operations for both cargo and passenger missions following FAA certification. Through its subsidiary Mokulele Airlines, the company is already Hawaii's largest commuter airline by number of airports served and flight frequency, providing a solid operational foundation for future electric aircraft deployment.

Surf Air Mobility has also announced plans to establish a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Hawaii. Upon certification, the facility is expected to become an authorized BETA aircraft service center in Hawaii, supporting long-term electric aircraft operations and helping build the technical infrastructure needed to scale commercial electric aviation.

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