The airline has chosen the Alia as the first electric aircraft to be deployed as part of its Mission NextGen decarbonization program, which could see larger models introduced from 2030.
Air New Zealand will make the conventional takeoff and landing version of Beta Technologies' Alia vehicle its first electric aircraft, with plans to use one of them for trial commercial cargo flights for the country's postal service. The agreement with Beta could result in the airline buying another 22 aircraft under options and rights covered in an agreement announced on December 5.