The regional carrier is operating a series of demo flights, becoming the first commercial carrier in the UK to fly an all-electric aircraft on its network.

Regular electric flights across the UK took another step towards reality this month, with the launch of a series of demonstration flights in Scotland.

Regional carrier Loganair has partnered with US electric aircraft manufacturer Beta to operate the UK’s first real-world electric flights, which cover Royal Mail’s Scottish flight routes.

The flights are being served by Beta’s ALIA CTOL all-electric aircraft, which are designed for regional cargo and passenger operations and can be charged in as little as 20 minutes.

The aircraft operate from existing conventional runways, and have a maximum demonstration of 336 nautical miles and a payload capacity of 560kg – which make them “well matched to the high-frequency regional routes that define Loganair’s Scottish network”, the airline said.

The first flight took place between Glasgow and Dundee, with further demonstrations set to operate between Aberdeen, Inverness, Wick and Orkney.