can you connect two monitors to the new MacbookAir

All of the following Apple Silicon laptops support just one external monitor:

• 13" and 15" MacBook Airs
• 13" MacBook Pros
• 14" MacBook Pros (using the base M3 chip, instead of a M3 Pro or M3 Max chip)

There are workarounds, but none that can add first-class hardware video outputs.

elkubiche wrote:

I was told my 2017 MacBook only supports one, that I need to buy the Pro but I really dont need a Pro

If you need more than one external monitor then yes, you do need a MacBook Pro. Assuming of course you want a laptop and not a desktop.

How many external monitors are supported by your model MacBook Air?

What you were told is correct.