{"id":12959,"date":"2023-12-07T23:00:28","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T05:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/planesintheair.com\/?p=12959"},"modified":"2023-12-07T23:00:28","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T05:00:28","slug":"air-new-zealand-announces-betas-alia-launch-aircraft-for-next-gen-aircraft-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/planesintheair.com\/?p=12959","title":{"rendered":"Air New Zealand announces BETA’s ALIA launch aircraft for Next Gen Aircraft program"},"content":{"rendered":"

Air\u00a0New\u00a0Zealand (NZX: AIR<\/a>)<\/strong> has today announced the ALIA as the airline’s first purchase of a next generation aircraft in its Mission Next Gen Aircraft<\/a> program.<\/p>\n

Designed by electric aerospace company BETA Technologies, the battery-powered all-electric aircraft is expected to join Air\u00a0New\u00a0Zealand’s fleet in 2026. Air\u00a0New\u00a0Zealand is purchasing the conventional take-off and landing version of the ALIA.<\/p>\n

The announcement follows an 18-month period of evaluation and diligence by Air New Zealand. Through the airline’s Mission Next Gen Aircraft program, it sought and received ideas and insights from 30 organisations, selecting four partners to work closely with on its goal of launching commercial flights using next generation aircraft in 2026. BETA’s ALIA is the first commercial order in the program.<\/p>\n

Air\u00a0New\u00a0Zealand will initially operate the aircraft as a cargo only service in partnership with New Zealand Post, on a route being selected through an expressions of interest (EOI) process with airports<\/a> across Aotearoa.<\/p>\n