Sønderborg Airport has become the first in Denmark to have a 100% electric aircraft complete a test flight on a domestic route.
The journey from Sønderborg to Copenhagen was carried out by Beta Technologies’ ALIA CTOL aircraft.
The flight is seen as a milestone in meeting a national ambition outlined by Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in her 2022 New Year’s speech. At that time, she stated that Danes should be able to fly green on a domestic route by 2025.
The ALIA CTOL aircraft, developed by Beta Technologies, is designed for regional and urban operations, carrying cargo or up to 5 passengers.
According to Beta Technologies, it produces around 84% less CO₂ compared to a conventional helicopter using fossil fuels. The aircraft is intended as a quieter, lower-emission alternative to traditional aviation models and is produced in the United States.
CEO of GOTO Sønderborg, Tanja Have said:We are proud that Sønderborg was chosen to show that Denmark and Europe are ready to take a significant step towards flying green. You could feel the wings of history when the plane took off, and I dare say that the test flight confirms Sønderborg's role as a global leader in energy efficiency and electrification.
While electric aviation is still in its early stages, organisations involved in the test say it demonstrates a practical step towards reducing emissions in regional air travel. According to the IEA, electrification is expected to play a major role in reducing carbon emissions globally, with electricity forecast to account for half of final energy use by 2050.
