Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She is now based in Seattle near Boeing Field and spends her free time exploring nature in the Pacific Northwest.

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

​Air New Zealand, which recently announced its ambition to&nbsp;bring&nbsp;zero-emissions flights to the country&nbsp;by 2026, has selected four major partners for the new program, called Mission Next Generation Aircraft. This week the carrier confirmed that&nbsp;Eviation, Beta Technologies, VoltAero, and Cranfield Aerospace—all companies working on either electric, hybrid, or hydrogen-powered aircraft—will support its efforts to demonstrate the viability of reducing carbon emissions.
On December 13,&nbsp;Air New Zealand announced&nbsp;it has&nbsp;signed a letter of intent to purchase an initial three aircraft, with the option for 20 additional aircraft, from at least one of the four partners. The airline will select exactly which aircraft and how many units it will purchase after an evaluation process expected to wrap up in the next 12 months.
“Mission NextGen Aircraft is not about backing one horse. It’s about working with a range of leaders in zero emissions aircraft technology to help move the whole ecosystem along,” said Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran. “Our&nbsp; goal is to confirm our commitment with one or more of these partners in the next 12 months with the ambition of purchasing an aircraft for delivery from 2026.”&nbsp;
“The learnings we will take from flying an aircraft with next-generation propulsion technology from 2026 will then pave the way for our long-term partners to deliver an aircraft that can replace our Q300 turboprop domestic fleet,” Foran added.
One of the four companies participating in the program is Eviation, a&nbsp;start-up based in Washington state that’s developing a fixed-wing, fully electric commuter airplane called <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/alice">Alice</a>. In addition to the nine-seat version, Eviation also plans to offer a cargo-carrying variant with a payload capacity of 2,500 pounds (1,100 kilograms).

<figure style="margin:0;">
<div style="margin-bottom:5px;"><img alt="Eviation achieved a first flight with its Alice electric aircraft in September 2022." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f4061f52-ef54-46ae-9449-ed5bd7a1eee4" src="/sites/default/files/eviations_alice_achieves_milestone_with_first_flight_of_all-electric_commuter_aircraft_copy.jpg" width="2000" height="1333" loading="lazy"></div>
<figcaption style="font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.2;font-style:italic;">Eviation achieved a first flight with its Alice electric aircraft in September 2022. (Image: Eviation Aircraft)</figcaption>
</figure>

Since Eviation <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-27/eviations-alice-electric-aircraft-starts-flight-test-campaign">flew the Alice</a> for the first time in September, the company has received several new orders for the aircraft and now has a backlog worth more than $2 billion. Most recently, the manufacturer received an order for 20 aircraft from the Australian airline and charter operator <a href="https://cncms.aero/news-article/2022-11-10/australian-airline-orders-20-eviation-alice-all-electric-commuter-airplanes">Northern Territory Air Services</a> (NTAS). It also holds orders from the German regional carrier <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-10-19/evia-aero-orders-25-eviation-alice-electric-commuters">Evia Aero</a>, Massachusetts-based regional airline <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-04-18/cape-air-eviation-sign-letter-intent-covering-75-alice-electric-aircraft">Cape Air</a>, and Miami-based charter and cargo flight provider <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-15/air-charter-firm-globalx-orders-50-eviation-alice-all-electric-aircraft">GlobalX</a>.
Eviation has said that it won’t begin deliveries of the Alice until 2027, the year after Air New Zealand said it aims to conduct its first zero-emissions flight. FutureFlight has reached out to the company for clarification on the timing of the possible deliveries to Air New Zealand but has not yet received a response as of press time.
Initially, the battery-powered Alice is expected to have a range of about 250 nm. However, the company aims to achieve a longer range of 440 nm once the available battery technology matures. The aircraft is powered by two MagniX Magni650 electric motors.&nbsp;
“Regional flights make up a sizeable proportion of Air New Zealand's routes. The Alice offers an effective way to decarbonize these journeys, revolutionizing air travel and supporting the goals of the Mission NextGen Aircraft program," said Eviation president and CEO Gregory Davis.&nbsp;
“New Zealand has earned a proud reputation for its progressive attitude and wide-ranging policies towards the climate challenge. The Alice is a beautiful aircraft that will delight airline operators and passengers,” Davis added. “Seeing it soar through the skies of New Zealand is a magical prospect, and I pay tribute to Air New Zealand's commitment to innovation and sustainability.”
Beta Technologies, a Vermont-based developer of eVTOL aircraft and their associated charging infrastructure, has also been named as one of Air New Zealand’s new partners for Mission NextGen Aircraft. So far, it is the only eVTOL aircraft selected to participate&nbsp;in the program.&nbsp;

<figure style="margin:0;">
<div style="margin-bottom:5px;"><img alt="Beta Technologies is developing the Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cd860b59-f4bc-47e4-aea5-334c738d3af6" src="/sites/default/files/beta-evtol-aircraft.jpg" width="2047" height="903" loading="lazy"></div>
<figcaption style="font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.2;font-style:italic;">Beta Technologies is developing the Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft. (Image: Beta Technologies)</figcaption>
</figure>

A company spokeswoman told FutureFlight that Air New Zealand is interested in both the company’s eVTOL aircraft, called the Alia 250, as well as Beta’s charging stations. Beta is developing a network of charging stations that can be used to charge a variety of electric aircraft, not just its own eVTOL model.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/beta-evtol?model=alia">Beta’s Alia 250 eVTOL</a> is designed to either carry up to 1,400 pounds of cargo to a range of up to 250 nm. Although the aircraft was initially designed to transport medical equipment and cargo, the company also plans to offer a passenger-carrying variant of the aircraft, which would seat five passengers plus one pilot.&nbsp;
“Air New Zealand has a long history of embracing innovation and taking action toward change, and the world needs global thought leaders like this to make a meaningful difference in the climate crisis right now,” said Beta founder and CEO Kyle Clark. “Air New Zealand&nbsp; is stepping up and we will be right here with them to make it a reality.”
Air New Zealand has also opted to partner with VoltAero, a French startup developing a family of hybrid-electric, fixed-wing aircraft&nbsp;known as <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/cassio">Cassio</a>.&nbsp;

<figure style="margin:0;">
<div style="margin-bottom:5px;"><img alt="VoltAero is developing the Cassio family of hybrid-electric aircraft seating up to 10 passengers." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="252fc29a-5ed3-4f12-92b4-854ed83fa9d9" src="/sites/default/files/voltaero-cassio-production-version-alps-photo-2a_copy.jpg" width="1200" height="928" loading="lazy"></div>
<figcaption style="font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.2;font-style:italic;">VoltAero is developing the Cassio family of hybrid-electric aircraft seating up to 10 passengers. (Image: VoltAero)</figcaption>
</figure>

VoltAero’s initial prototype, a converted Cessna 337 Skymaster known as Cassio 1, has already logged more than 10,000 kilometers (6,000 miles) in test flights since its debut in 2019. The Cassio 1 testbed has two EngineUs 45 electric motors, which are rated at 45 kilowatts of continuous power.&nbsp;
The four-seat Cassio 330, VoltAero’s first production model, will use a Safran EngineUs 100 motor with a maximum rating of more than 150 kW. The Cassio 330 is expected to make its first test flight in 2023. Following the Cassio 330, VoltAero plans to develop a six-seat Cassio 480 (480 kW) and the 10-seat Cassio 600 (600 kW).&nbsp;
VoltAero says its unique hybrid propulsion concept will rely primarily on the electric motors during taxi, takeoff, landing, and cruise flight. An internal combustion engine serves as a range extender that recharges the batteries during flight, and it can be used as a backup in case of a failure with the electric propulsion system. Each of the Cassio aircraft is expected to have a range of about 800 miles (1,300 km) and a cruise speed of about 230 mph (370 km/h).&nbsp;
"Cassio provides outstanding safety and versatility through the propulsion system's dual source of electric-hybrid energy," said Jean Botti, VoltAero's CEO and Chief Technical Officer. “Additionally, Cassio's configurable cabin—along with the propulsion system's adaptability to biofuels and hydrogen for its thermal engine—opens Air New Zealand's regional network to next-generation airplanes that are clean, quiet and efficient."
The Cassio family of aircraft is expected to be certified by the end of 2024 under the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s CS-23 certification specifications for single-engine, general aviation aircraft.&nbsp;
The fourth demonstration partner Air New Zealand selected for its Mission NextGen Aircraft program is the UK’s Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS), which is developing a “green” hydrogen-fueled aircraft. It is the only hydrogen-powered aircraft participating in Air New Zealand’s zero-emissions flight program.&nbsp;

<figure style="margin:0;">
<div style="margin-bottom:5px;"><img alt="Cranfield Aerospace Solutions is working on plans to convert existing regional airliners to hydrogen power." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8dda65d0-b87e-4a22-85b0-f0e42ae8f5f9" src="/sites/default/files/fresson-country1-5-brightened_copy.png" width="900" height="507" loading="lazy"></div>
<figcaption style="font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.2;font-style:italic;">Cranfield Aerospace Solutions is working on plans to convert existing regional airliners to hydrogen power. (Image: Cranfield Aerospace Solutions)</figcaption>
</figure>

CAeS has been working on its hydrogen propulsion system since 2019 and has received UK government funding through <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-11-30/customer-and-partners-board-project-fresson-steps-hydrogen-commuter-plans">Project Fresson</a>. That project, which first aims to retrofit nine-seat Britten-Norman Islander airplanes with hydrogen propulsion systems by 2026, represents the first phase of the company’s roadmap to zero-emissions flight.&nbsp;
The company initially planned to produce a hybrid-electric propulsion system, but it scrapped those plans in 2021 in favor of using hydrogen fuel cells with wing-mounted fuel tanks instead. Following the Islander conversions, CAeS plans to develop a 19-seat commuter airliner to run on hydrogen power, either by converting an existing aircraft or producing a clean-sheet design. Eventually, the company hopes to develop hydrogen airliners that can seat up to 100 passengers.&nbsp;
In July, CAeS signed a letter of intent with its first prospective customer, the German start-up airline Evia Aero, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-13/cranfield-aerospace-secures-first-customer-modified-green-islander-aircraft">to supply 10 hydrogen fuel cell conversion kits</a> for the Islander aircraft. Evia Aero has since agreed to work with CAeS on its plans to develop the 19-seat hydrogen-powered airliner.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Air New Zealand Aims to Operate Electric Aircraft By 2026

The carrier plans to acquire up to 23 electric or hybrid-electric aircraft and is now working with four manufacturers to replace turboprop commuters.

Air New Zealand Signals Next Steps To Decarbonize Fleet

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

An average of seven Vision Jets per month were delivered during the first three quarters of this year

Cirrus Delivers 600th Vision Jet Since 2016 Market Entry

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Latest prototype of the two-seater now features improved rotors 

Volocopter Makes Final Push Toward eVTOL Aircraft Type Certification

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Agreement covers up to 12 of the Alia-250 model and is Beta's second sale in New Zealand

New Zealand Air Ambulance Service Orders Beta's eVTOL Aircraft

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Midnight eVTOL aircraft production begins in 2025

Archer Completes Georgia eVTOL Factory

AmyWilder

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Deliveries of the turboprop single can now start in the UK

Piper M700 Fury Secures UK CAA Nod

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Testing on Quarterhorse Mk 1 was completed in 21 days

Hermeus Completes Quarterhorse Demonstrator Ground Tests

Jessica Reed

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

More In Aircraft

Cirrus Delivers 600th Vision Jet Since 2016 Market Entry

An average of seven Vision Jets per month were delivered during the first three quarters of this year

Volocopter Makes Final Push Toward eVTOL Aircraft Type Certification

Latest prototype of the two-seater now features improved rotors

New Zealand Air Ambulance Service Orders Beta's eVTOL Aircraft

Agreement covers up to 12 of the Alia-250 model and is Beta's second sale in New Zealand

Archer Completes Georgia eVTOL Factory

Midnight eVTOL aircraft production begins in 2025

Piper M700 Fury Secures UK CAA Nod

Deliveries of the turboprop single can now start in the UK

Hermeus Completes Quarterhorse Demonstrator Ground Tests

Testing on Quarterhorse Mk 1 was completed in 21 days

Dave Yip To Take Over as Acting CEO of Metrojet

Leadership changes will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025

U.S. Start-up Nimbus Flies Electric Bizjet Demonstrator

N1000-XSS1 technology demonstrator achieves first test flight

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN