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In a proactive move towards sustainable aviation, Air New Zealand has recently rolled out an Expression of Interest (EOI) to airports nationwide to identify potential routes for its futuristic, low-emission commercial demonstrator aircraft, slated for deployment in 2026. This audacious step is part of their forward-thinking initiative, ‘Mission Next Gen Aircraft,’ announced in the latter part of the preceding year.

Air New Zealand has made its intentions clear about reducing its carbon footprint and transforming the aviation landscape of Aotearoa. The EOI initiative allows the airline to harness support from like-minded airports that share a vision for greener aviation and are ready to assume leadership in creating the necessary infrastructure for this advanced technology.

The cutting-edge commercial demonstrator aircraft, the core of this initiative, is currently being selected. The plane, once selected, will use either electric, hybrid, or hydrogen fuel cell technology, making strides in the airline’s objective of sustainable aviation. It is worth noting that the chosen aircraft will start its journey as a cargo-only service.

Kiri Hannifin, Air New Zealand’s Chief Sustainability Officer, conveyed the significance of the participating airports in this ground-breaking venture. She affirmed that these airports would be crucial in integrating lower-emission aircraft into New Zealand’s aviation system.

Next Gen Aircraft: Coming to a region near you

Hannifin further underscored the airline’s commitment to decarbonization, stating, “Work around next generation aircraft is a key part of the airline’s strategy to decarbonize its operations. Decarbonizing aviation is not easy, and we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, but we’re committed to reducing our emissions as quickly as we can, and this process is another step in the right direction.”

She also emphasized the pivotal role of all New Zealand airports in this ecological endeavour, asserting that the more extensive the network, the more feasible the introduction of next-generation aircraft at scale in Aotearoa becomes. The two selected airports through the EOI would serve as pioneers, driving changes and shaping up the implementation of this new technology.

As the airline gears up for its vision of having next-generation aircraft operate on its domestic network by 2030, it will diligently work on building, testing, and certifying aircraft and associated infrastructure.

The future certainly seems exciting, and with Air New Zealand at the helm, there’s no doubt that the selected airports will become beacons of information for other airports, igniting the change required well in advance of the more extensive fleet replacement needs projected from 2030 onwards.

A new era of sustainable aviation is on the horizon, with Air New Zealand’s ‘Mission Next Gen Aircraft’ leading the charge towards a greener future. As we wait for the airline’s final decision on the type of aircraft and the two forward-thinking airports in early 2024, there’s little doubt that this endeavour marks a significant stride in the right direction.