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Air New Zealand and US-based BETA Technologies have completed a four-month Next Generation Aircraft Technical Demonstrator Programme, marking a step in understanding how emerging aircraft technologies could operate in New Zealand.
During the programme, the battery-electric ALIA CX300 completed more than 100 flights, flew 13,000 kilometres, and visited 12 airports or aerodromes across the North and South Islands. Two Air New Zealand pilots and eight BETA Technologies pilots flew the aircraft in a range of conditions, building operational experience alongside the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand and airport partners in Hamilton, Wellington and Marlborough.
Air New Zealand general manager strategy, networks and fleet Baden Smith says the programme delivered insights into how electric propulsion aircraft perform and what is required to operate within New Zealand’s existing aviation systems.
“This programme was about learning by doing,” says Baden. “Flying the aircraft in real conditions, across real routes, with our people and partners involved has given us a much deeper understanding of what next-generation aircraft could mean for New Zealand aviation.
“We worked through everything from pilot training and flight planning to energy use, airport interfaces and airspace integration. Those learnings will directly inform how we think about the future of our fleet, our network, and scaling this type of technology,” he says.
A milestone was New Zealand’s first low-emissions instrument flight rules (IFR) operation in December. IFR flying allows pilots to operate using flightdeck instruments rather than visual cues, which is critical in low-visibility conditions. The programme also included Wellington–Blenheim crossings, assessing how the aircraft operated across Cook Strait in operational conditions.
The programme highlighted potential operational efficiencies, with the Wellington–Blenheim route showing a difference between conventional fuel costs of about $110 in a Cessna Caravan and electrical energy use of about $20 in the ALIA CX300. Air New Zealand carried more than 20 tonnes of mock cargo during the programme, and around 700 people viewed the aircraft during ground visits.
“What stood out was how strongly people responded once they could see and touch the aircraft,” says Baden. “It’s helped move the conversation from ‘what if’ to ‘how might this work’, which is exactly what a technical demonstrator programme should do.”
BETA Technologies head of sales and support Simon Newitt says the programme demonstrated how electric aircraft can operate in airline environments.
“Flying more than 100 flights across both islands, including Cook Strait crossings and New Zealand’s first low-emissions IFR operations, gave our teams and Air New Zealand insight into how electric aircraft integrate with existing airspace, airports, and everyday airline workflows,” says Simon.
“We’re grateful to work alongside Air New Zealand, the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, and airport partners including Wellington and Marlborough airports, whose infrastructure investments helped make this programme possible. New Zealand’s geography and regional connectivity needs make it a proving ground, enabling practical learnings that can support more cost-efficient and sustainable aviation here, while also informing deployments globally,” he says.
The ALIA CX300 demonstrator will now return to BETA Technologies. Air New Zealand says the knowledge gained will inform discussions with regulators, manufacturers and partners as aviation technology evolves.
“This programme puts New Zealand in a strong position, informed by evidence, experience and people, to make decisions about the future,” says Baden. “Leading innovators like BETA Technologies will change the game and we thank them for their partnership.”
