Electric Aircraft to Revolutionize Travel and Protect Ecosystem in Greece

An artist’s impression of an eVTOL aircraft flying over Greece. Credit: Libra Group

Electric aircraft to be acquired by Aria Hotels, one of the hospitality subsidiaries of the Libra Group, will offer a new traveling experience in Greece.

Starting around 2026 and in partnership with LCI Aviation, a sister company within the Libra Group, Aria Hotels will provide holiday-goers vacationing in and around its fifty properties across Greece with access to electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) to traverse Greece and its exceptional islands.

This paradigm-shifting technology allows guests to travel in a sustainable, time-efficient, and economical fashion, which is net-carbon zero, helping to protect the stunning ecosystem, Aria Hotels says in the announcement.

LCI, also a subsidiary of the Libra Group, recently signed an agreement with BETA Technologies (BETA), the developer of a fully integrated electric aviation system, to acquire up to 125 of the company’s eVTOL aircraft.

Electric aircraft produces zero operational emission

Under the terms of the deposit-backed agreement, LCI will initially acquire fifty aircraft with an option for a total of up to 125. The eVTOL aircraft are currently under development at BETA’s facility in Burlington, Vermont.

The eVTOL produces zero operational emissions with a maximum range of 250 nautical miles and is designed to carry five passengers and a pilot or 1,400 lbs (635 kgs) of payload.

The aircraft will provide sustainable solutions for a wide range of applications including cargo, medical, and passenger uses with true point-to-point operations.

Key advantages include the ability to recharge in under an hour, a net-zero emissions profile, and lower maintenance requirements. BETA is also developing charging infrastructure to support the electric aircraft, as well as electric ground vehicles.

Libra Group is “committed to advancing a clean energy”

Jaspal Jandu, CEO of LCI, says: “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,” said Jandu, and “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.”

“As a leading aircraft lessor with an established global track record, LCI has a strong pulse on what operators are looking for,” said Kyle Clark, Founder and CEO of BETA.

“We are gratified by their confidence that the solutions we’re building will answer the need for next generation, zero-emission electric aircraft,” Clark said. “We are excited to partner with LCI and push adoption of this solution forward within the industry.”

The new eVTOL aircraft will complement LCI’s existing fleet of modern helicopters and fixed wing aircraft as well as almost double the number of aircraft on its aviation platform to over 270 units.

In addition, LCI and its parent company, the Libra Group, whose subsidiaries own and operate assets in more than fifty countries, plan to share commercial, financial, and supply-chain expertise with BETA through well-established industry networks.

George Logothetis, Chairman and CEO of the Libra Group, stated that “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.”

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