The All-Electric Alia Is Officially Air New Zealand’s First Green Aircraft

In approximately two years from now, Air New Zealand will add the battery-powered Alia aircraft to its fleet and kick off commercial operations in collaboration with New Zealand Post. These operations will debut as a cargo-only service on selected routes in Aotearoa. The routes will be established together with the first two airports that will house the new aircraft, which the airline will announce at the beginning of next year.

The Alia version that was selected for this trailblazing project is not the eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) but the CTOL (conventional takeoff and landing). Both are powered exclusively by batteries, but the fixed-wing CTOL is specifically dedicated to airport-to-airport missions. It's just over 12 meters long (39 feet) with a three-ton weight.

Boasting the famous Air New Zealand black-and-white livery, the new aircraft will fly at 270 kph (167.7 mph) and at an altitude between 1,500 and 3,000 meters (4,900 – 9,800 feet). According to the carrier, this is a lower altitude than what the Alia can reach, and that's because it will operate shorter flights.

Testing has confirmed that this all-electric flying machine can easily cover more than 480 km (298 miles) in one take, but for this pioneering commercial project, it will cover routes of no more than 150 km (93 miles), with 40 to 60 minutes required for a full recharge.

Air New Zealand confirmed its initial order for a single Alia CTOL, with the option of two additional aircraft. Plus, it has reserved rights for 20 more units in the future.

This is the first purchase in the carrier's Mission Next Gen Aircraft program. It announced this ambitious program at the end of last year. Beta Technologies was one of the industry players competing in the program, along with Eviation, VoltAero, and Cranfield Aerospace. Now, the Vermont-based eVTOL manufacturer was officially confirmed as the winner. The carrier took 18 months to complete its evaluation process and, in the end, selected the Alia CTOL as the best option.

This pilot commercial program will be just the beginning. Air New Zealand's main goal is to eventually replace its old, polluting fleet of conventional Q300 turboprops with low-emission, new-generation alternatives. Still, this isn't expected to happen earlier than 2030. In the meantime, the new Alia electric aircraft sporting the Air New Zealand livery will act as a precious learning tool for gathering feedback.

In addition to battery-powered aircraft, the carrier is also exploring other ways of reducing emissions, including SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) and hydrogen-powered hybrid airplanes.