Air New Zealand has announced the purchase of its first battery-powered electric aircraft – BETA’s ALIA CTOL.
The all-electric battery powered aircraft is in line to join Air New Zealand’s fleet in 2026, and will operate as a cargo-only service with New Zealand Post.
The ALIA has flown over 480kms in one flight in testing, and according to an Air New Zealand spokesperson, will be used for routes of around 150km in length.
The announcement follows an 18-month search by Air New Zealand. Through the airline’s Mission Next Gen Aircraft programme, it sought and received ideas and insights from 30 organisations, selecting four to work with on its goal of launching commercial flights using next generation aircraft in 2026.
BETA’s ALIA is the first commercial order in the programme.
Air NZ is working with airports to determine the plane's first route.
BETA chief executive officer Kyle Clark said: "We are gratified by the airline’s confidence in our technology as a solution that will meet their operational needs and look forward to continuing to work hand-in-hand as we bring the ALIA to market for 2026."
Clark told 1News the next step will be identifying the exact routes the plane will take across the country, and added the aircraft is able to be loaded with cargo while it is charging, meaning a "similar" turnaround time to traditional fuel planes.
When asked the time frame on when an airline could have a full net zero fleet, Clark said "by 2045" the technological capability will be there, but there will be steps to work through to make this happen.
Air New Zealand chief executive officer Greg Foran said the airline started with cargo as it allows them to "get on the experience curve" and start to learn "really quickly".
"The clock is ticking. We're acutely aware, COP28 is on at the moment, you can't look anywhere without seeing we've got an issue here and we think it is really important in our role to get on there and start demonstrating this is part of the equation to getting towards net zero.
"It's not the total equation, we've still got long haul flight which is likely to be sustainable aviation fuel, at some point you're going to see things like green hydrogen electric planes, but battery is the first one, its up and flying now in the United States and we want to get on and start the journey right now."
Foran added the purchase cements Air New Zealand’s commitment to flying lower-emissions aircraft in New Zealand.
“This is a small but important step in a much larger journey for the airline. There is a lot of work ahead of us, but we are incredibly committed, and this purchase marks a new chapter for the airline.”
“Decarbonising aviation isn’t easy, and we have a lot of work to do. We need to accelerate the pace of change in the technology, infrastructure, operations and regulation.”
“While this aircraft will add to, not replace our existing fleet, it is a catalyst for that change. By flying the ALIA, we hope to advance our knowledge and the transformation needed in the aviation system in Aotearoa for us to fly larger, fleet replacing, next generation aircraft from 2030.”
Air NZ will fly the "conventional" take-off and landing (CTOL) version of the aircraft. It has a firm order for one plane, with options for two more, and rights for a further 20.
It's estimated it will fly at an altitude of between 1500m to 3000m. It weighs three tonnes, is just over 12m long and can travel at 270km/h.
A full battery charge takes up to 60 minutes.
Air NZ said it will only enter service once it has passed testing and has been certified as safe to fly by the Civil Aviation Authority.
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