e-Smart Group has signed a leasing agreement with aerospace asset finance specialist SLI for up to 20 BETA Technologies electric aircraft, supporting the rollout of its air cargo operations, initially in Europe.
The agreement covers a mix of BETA’s ALIA CX300 conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft and ALIA A250 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
The deal converts e-Smart’s November 2025 order for up to 20 BETA aircraft into an operating lease structure, replacing upfront capital expenditure with fixed monthly lease payments. SLI, the aerospace asset finance arm of Libra Group, will own the aircraft and lease them to e-Smart.
The transaction marks one of the first instances of a BETA aircraft operator using a leasing model to finance fleet expansion, reflecting growing interest in alternative financing for advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft.
SLI has orders for up to 190 electric aircraft and autonomous cargo drones and aims to accelerate adoption of next-generation aviation through flexible leasing solutions.
e-Smart, which provides logistics services for e-commerce and other time-critical sectors, said the agreement will support the global expansion of its electric fleet. The company expects advanced air mobility aircraft to transform cargo transport by providing a zero-emission alternative to road and rail logistics.
