General Industry

Dublin-Based Aviation Company To Acquire Electrical Vertical Take-Off And Landing Aircraft

By Dave Simpson
Dublin-Based Aviation Company To Acquire Electrical Vertical Take-Off And Landing Aircraft

Dublin-based aviation company and Libra Group subsidiary LCI has signed an agreement with electric aviation system developer BETA Technologies (BETA) to acquire as many as 125 of the company’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, according to a statement published on LCIAviation.com.

Details

LCI will initially acquire 50 of BETA’s ALIA-250 eVTOL under the terms of the deposit-backed agreement, with an option for a total of up to 125 aircraft, according to the statement published on LCIAviation.com, which also noted that ALIA produce zero operational emissions, have a maximum range of 250 nautical miles, are designed to carry five passengers and a pilot – or 1,400 pounds (635 kilograms) of payload – and will provide sustainable solutions for applications that include cargo, medical and passenger, with true point-to-point operations.

Statement By LCI’s CEO

The statement published on LCIAviation.com included one from LCI’s CEO, Jaspal Jandu, wherein he said, “We are embracing this new era of sustainable flight, and BETA Technologies’ innovative approach makes them a natural and credible partner for LCI. We believe that the aircraft’s blend of rechargeable battery power, significant internal capacity, and plentiful range is an optimal one. We are confident it will be a popular choice for operators and end users seeking to develop and augment their fleets with this truly sustainable technology.”

Statement By BETA’s Founder And CEO

The statement published on LCIAviation.com also included one from BETA’s founder and CEO, Kyle Clark, wherein he said, “As a leading aircraft lessor with an established global track record, LCI has a strong pulse on what operators are looking for. We are gratified by their confidence that the solutions we’re building will answer the need for next-generation, zero-emission electric aircraft. We are excited to partner with LCI and push adoption of this solution forward within the industry.”

Statements By Libra Group’s Chairman And CEO

The statement published on LCIAviation.com included a further statement from Libra Group’s chairman and CEO, George Logothetis, wherein he said, “As a global holding company, Libra Group and its subsidiaries are committed to advancing a clean-energy future. Through this agreement, LCI will bring carbon-free transportation to customers around the world.”

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Logothetis continued, “Today’s announcement by LCI is the tip of the spear in the innovation pivot of Libra Group, and thus our entire organisation. We look forward to continuing to partner with innovative and future-thinking companies that can benefit from our global platform and to help catalyse the uptake of life-saving, transformative technologies across the world.”

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