Airlines
Air New Zealand Orders Beta Alia CX300 Demonstrator Aircraft
It will use the aircraft for 'familiarization exercises' in 2025
Beta Technologies founder and CEO Kyle Clark, Air New Zealand chief sustainability officer Kiri Hannifin, and Air New Zealand chief operational integrity and safety officer David Morgan pose in front of an Alia CX300 electric aircraft painted with airline livery.
Beta founder and CEO Kyle Clark, Air New Zealand chief sustainability officer Kiri Hannifin, and Air New Zealand chief operational integrity and safety officer David Morgan pose in front of an Alia CX300 electric aircraft painted with airline livery. © Beta Technologies

Air New Zealand will accept delivery of an Alia CX300 electric airplane and several aircraft chargers from Beta Technologies in 2025 as the flag-carrier airline prepares to launch commercial cargo operations with the aircraft in 2026.

After agreeing to purchase up to 23 Alia CX300 aircraft last year, Air New Zealand has opted to lease an additional “technical demonstrator” to use for familiarization practices ahead of service entry, Beta announced on December 11. In addition to the demonstrator, the airline has added one permanent charging station and multiple mobile “MiniCube” chargers to its existing order from Beta, which manufactures the multimodal chargers.