e-Smart Group, a global air logistics platform, has signed an agreement with aerospace asset finance specialist, SLI, to lease up to 20 BETA Technologies all-electric aircraft to be deployed in e-Smart’s air cargo operations, initially in Europe. The agreement covers a combination of BETA ALIA CX300 electrically powered conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft and BETA ALIA A250 electrically powered vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
“In November 2025, e-Smart signed an order for up to 20 aircraft from BETA,” according to a company press release. “This latest agreement with SLI converts that commitment to an operating lease model, shifting the acquisition from capital to operating expenditure. SLI will be the owner of the aircraft while e-Smart will lease the assets through fixed monthly payments, a non-dilutive, flexible approach to asset finance.
SLI, the aerospace subsidiary of Libra Group, is a provider of flexible asset financing solutions for the aviation and space industries, including advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft. SLI now holds orders for up to 190 electric aircraft and autonomous cargo drones. The company aims to facilitate the widespread adoption of this new technology through the provision of its leasing facilities. The agreement with e-Smart marks one of the first times an operator of BETA’s aircraft has utilized leasing to finance the development of its fleet.
e-Smart specializes in logistics solutions for the e-commerce and other time-critical industries. The group combines digital logistics, product portfolio cargo management, training, advisory and airline services into one integrated platform. The adoption of asset financing through this partnership with SLI is expected to facilitate the global expansion of e-Smart’s fleet of electric aircraft. e-Smart expects AAM aircraft to revolutionize logistics by providing a zero-emission alternative to road and rail transport.
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