STAVANGER: Norway has taken a major step toward zero-emission aviation with the first real-world test of an electric cargo flight between Stavanger and Bergen, airport operator Avinor announced on Thursday.
The Alia aircraft, built by US manufacturer Beta and operated by Bristow Norway, completed the 160-kilometre journey in 55 minutes, simulating a cargo route in southeastern Norway. “This is the first time an electric plane has flown the trade route between Stavanger and Bergen. Everything went very well,” said Avinor director Karianne Helland Strand.
The test, conducted under visual flight rules, is part of a broader program evaluating how electric aircraft can integrate into Norway’s air traffic systems and airport infrastructure. The trial period, which began in August, will continue until January 2026, with regulatory authorities closely involved to prepare for potential commercial operations by 2028–2030.
The aircraft’s battery capacity allows flights of up to 400 kilometres—sufficient for a return trip between the two cities. “I don’t have range anxiety because we plan within the aircraft’s limitations,” pilot Jeremy Degagne told AFP, noting that, as with conventional aircraft, strict energy margins are maintained.
Norway, already a leader in electric cars and boats, aims to replicate that success in aviation. However, the sector remains one of the hardest to decarbonise, currently contributing nearly three percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.
The milestone follows a 2019 incident when Avinor’s then-CEO Dag Falk-Petersen had to emergency-land an electric plane after engine failure. Unlike that episode, the latest test was completed smoothly—marking a promising step toward sustainable air transport.
