Ryan Air purchases BETA Technologies’ CTOL aircraft to increase air cargo transport to rural communities in Alaska  

Ryan Air has announced a deposit-backed order for electric aircraft from BETA Technologies — as well as the deployment of BETA Charge Cubes — to enable operations of cargo operations throughout Alaska.

Ryan Air is among the primary operators in the US state’s aviation sector, where 85 per cent of communities are not accessible by road, which means that one in eleven Alaskans depend on air, water, or snowmobile transportation to access supplies and services.

In a press release issued earlier this week, Ryan Air says BETA’s ALIA CTOL aircraft is uniquely optimized for the types of critical, regional transport it conducts.

The aircraft can carry up to 1,250 pounds of cargo or five passengers, making it ideal for transporting medical supplies, food, and other critical goods to remote areas. ALIA’s range, efficiency, and low operating costs will support Ryan Air’s growth, while reducing emissions and improving service reliability.  

Lee Ryan, President of Ryan Air, said: “Ryan Air’s mission has always been to raise the quality of life for the people we serve. For more than a century, our family has been involved in carrying the mail, and since 1953 we have operated aircraft to connect Alaska’s most remote communities.

“From the dog team era to the jet age, from visual navigation and LORAN to NextGen ADS-B and GPS, we’ve embraced each wave of progress to better serve our state. Now, as we enter the advanced air mobility era with BETA, we are excited to continue that tradition — delivering safety, innovation, and efficient technology to Alaska and beyond.” 

In addition to delivering aircraft, BETA will install up to 10 of its multimodal, interoperable Charge Cubes across Ryan Air’s network.

These chargers are multimodal and interoperable, supporting a wide range of electric ground and air vehicles — from BETA’s aircraft and other electric aircraft, to buses, trucks, and cars. Their built-in energy storage capabilities enhance grid stability and improve community access to electricity.

This infrastructure will enable efficient operation of Ryan Air’s ALIA CTOL fleet and expand the airline’s electric capabilities across North America.  

Patrick Buckles, BETA’s Director of Commercial Aircraft Sales, said: “When we set out to develop our electric aircraft and chargers, it was with a mission to create aviation technologies that could increase access, fill critical needs, and solve big problems.

“Ryan Air has been committed to improving the quality of life for Western communities for decades, finding ways to reach the hard-to-reach populations with an aerial lifeline. We are honored to partner with them to serve Alaska and a growing list of territories that need more support to reliably receive critical resources.”  

Ryan Air works with more than 200 Tribes, Alaska Native health, regional, and village corporations, and major customers and partners in the Alaskan region, including UPS, FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service.

Specializing in Bush freight transportation, the family- and native-operated company operates from eight hubs and serves more than 73 Western communities, where air service is the sole means of receiving and sending critical items such as food and medical supplies.  

From Point Hope to Platinum, Gambell to Holy Cross, Ryan Air covers a service area larger than the U.S. west coast, daily. 

BETA’s aircraft are engineered for all-weather performance and have been tested to operate reliably in a wide range of environmental conditions. The aircraft will also be IFR and FIKI capable, increasing operational flexibility and enabling more consistent service in areas frequently affected by challenging weather.

In addition to performance, ALIA’s electric propulsion system offers a significantly quieter sound profile than conventional aircraft, reducing environmental disturbance for the communities it serves.  

Ryan added: “One of the exciting aspects of electric aviation is that the ALIA’s batteries can be repurposed at the end of their flying life, creating second-life applications that support rural Alaska.

“In many of the communities we serve, diesel generators remain the only power source, limiting growth and stability. By leveraging BETA’s battery technology and infrastructure, Ryan Air — together with local partners — can help bring greater energy reliability and sustainability to even the most remote parts of our state.”