Story and image from Air New Zealand
December 12, 2024 – Air New Zealand’s dream to fly its first electric aircraft around Aotearoa is a step closer today with the announcement it will fly a battery-electric aircraft in a technical demonstrator programme based in Hamilton and Wellington from April 2025.
The ALIA CX300 aircraft, manufactured in the US by partner BETA Technologies, will allow the airline to understand how this new technology performs in New Zealand before the battery-electric commercial aircraft arrives in 2026 to fly cargo between Wellington and Blenheim.
This announcement brings an ALIA aircraft to Aotearoa one year earlier than the airline’s commercial cargo services between Wellington and Blenheim begin. Having the aircraft type here before commercial services start gives the airline a longer runway to understand how the aircraft will perform in New Zealand, begin pilot and crew familiarisation, and allow ample time to share the technology with New Zealanders.
Click the link to read the full story! -> Mission Next Gen Aircraft announces Technical Demonstrator Program