Norway’s push for sustainable aviation took flight on August 8 with the first all-electric ALIA CX300 aircraft operation at Stavanger Airport, marking the launch of the country’s Test Arena for Zero & Low Emission Aviation. Operated by Bristow Norway and developed by BETA Technologies, the aircraft will undergo six months of trial flights on likely future routes, including Stavanger–Bergen.
The initiative is backed by Avinor, the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway, and the Norwegian government, which views the Test Arena as critical to scaling Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in the region. Officials hailed the project as a model for green innovation, job creation, and regulatory learning.
The ALIA’s design — optimised for range, cold-weather performance, and regional connectivity — fits Norway’s challenging geography. The test programme builds on the country’s leadership in electric transport, where nearly 90% of new car sales in 2024 were electric.
This first delivery and flight of the ALIA in Norway is seen as a milestone for both BETA and Bristow, supporting operational insights and accelerating the path toward commercial, zero-emission aviation.