Finance Associated Press, December 6 (edited by Xia Junxiong).On Wednesday (December 6) local time, Air New Zealand said it aims to be the first airline to use an electric aircraft. The company plans to launch an all-electric aircraft in 2026.
Air New Zealand, New Zealand's national airline, announced on Wednesday that it had placed an order for an ALIA electric aircraft from US electric aircraft developer Beta Technologies.
The Alia aircraft is expected to join Air New Zealand's fleet and will initially be used for cargo only, working with New Zealand Post to deliver parcels and letters on New Zealand's domestic routes.
Kiri Hannifin, Chief Sustainability Officer, Air New Zealand, said: "Our ambition is to be the first airline to use electric aircraft for commercial purposes. However, she also said that the company has not yet determined when the electric aircraft will be used for passenger flights.
According to Air New Zealand, the Alia aircraft can be fully charged in about an hour, and the take-off and landing methods are the same as conventional aircraft.
The ALIA is about 12 meters long, weighs 3 tons, flies 480 kilometers in a single test flight, has a maximum flight speed of 270 kilometers per hour, and can fly at an altitude of 3,000 meters.
After being certified for safe flight, the aircraft will be used on a route of about 150 km. According to Beta Technologies' official website, Alia can accommodate five passengers and one pilot.
Beta Technologies was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Vermont, USA, and the company has received investment from Amazon.
In addition to the one ALIA aircraft already on order, Air New Zealand has the right to purchase a further 22 aircraft.
Greg Foran, Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand, said: "The next generation of aircraft is poised to decarbonise our regional operations and this purchase marks a new chapter for the company. ”
To reduce its climate impact, the global aviation industry is pinning its hopes on sustainable aviation fuel and the development of next-generation aircraft that use electric, hybrid and hydrogen propulsion technologies.
Air New Zealand has also been working with Eviation, Voltaero and Cranfield Air to develop the next generation of aircraft.
Finance Associated Press Xia Junxiong).