FutureFlight
Air New Zealand Names Four Partners for NextGen Aircraft Program
The airline's collaborators include Eviation, Beta Technologies, VoltAero, and Cranfield Aerospace—all companies working on electric, hybrid, or hydrogen-powered aircraft.
A digital rendering shows four aircraft in Air New Zealand paintwork: a VoltAero Cassio 330 aircraft, Eviation's Alice, Beta's Alia-250 eVTOL, and a CAeS hydrogen-powered Islander
Air New Zealand has selected Eviation, Beta Technologies, VoltAero, and Cranfield Aerospace Solutions to participate in its Mission NextGen Aircraft program, as it prepares to select up to 23 electric or hybrid-electric aircraft. (Image: Air New Zealand)

Air New Zealand, which recently announced its ambition to bring zero-emissions flights to its home country by 2026, has selected four major partners for the new program, called Mission Next Generation Aircraft. This week, the carrier confirmed that Eviation, Beta Technologies, VoltAero, and Cranfield Aerospace—all companies working on electric, hybrid, or hydrogen-powered aircraft—will support its efforts to demonstrate the viability of reducing carbon emissions.

On December 13, Air New Zealand announced that it has signed a letter of intent to purchase three aircraft, with the option for 20 more, 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 that is expected to wrap up in the next 12 months.