The future, delivered: UPS just announced a collaboration with BETA Technologies (BETA) to test electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the United Arab Emirates. Thanks to a license granted by the UAE government, UPS will be able to test a new sustainable aircraft.
“We’re accelerating our journey to decarbonize the future of flight and these aircraft will help us get there,” said Laura Lane, UPS EVP & Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer. “As a company, we’ve made a commitment to 100% carbon neutrality by 2050. And we’ve set clear goals to get there such as sourcing 30% of aviation fuel from sustainable sources by 2035.”
An innovation-driven strategy: With a whisper-quiet capability to take off and land directly on UPS property, eVTOLs are perfect for:
- Moving smaller package loads
- Reducing aircraft emissions
- Cutting time-in-transit
- Saving on operating costs
“These incredible aircraft serve as a foundation for future solutions to reduce emissions in our air and ground operations,” said Bala Subramanian, UPS EVP & Chief Digital and Technology Officer. “With the support from the UAE government, we’re excited to focus on innovations that meet the needs of our business, our customers and the environment.”
The license was signed by H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority, Bala Subramanian, and Blain Newton, Chief Operating Officer at BETA, and is part of the UAE government’s vision for 2023 as the ‘Year of Sustainability.’
UPS and electric go way back: In 2021, UPS Flight Forward announced plans to purchase eVTOL aircraft to augment our air service, but UPS has been investing in, researching and driving electric vehicles since the 1930s.
Did you know?
- UPS’s global vehicle fleet includes over 15,600 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles, including nearly 1,000 electric and plugin hybrid electric vehicles on the road – an essential part of our plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
- UPS is committed to achieving 40% alternative fuel in ground operations by 2025 and sourcing 30% of aviation fuel from sustainable sources by 2035.
- UPS continues to deploy EVs throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
- UPS is dedicated to help offset carbon by planting 50 million trees by 2030, in addition to supporting research and development efforts to foster green innovations in the transportation and logistics sector.