Air New Zealand has announced four world-leading innovators – Eviation, Beta, VoltAero, and Cranfield Aerospace with whom it will collaborate on its mission to launch its first zero-emissions demonstrator flight – either cargo or passenger – in 2026.
The airline has also signed a strategic alliance agreement with Hiringa Energy, a New Zealand-based green-hydrogen supply and refuelling infrastructure company, to understand better the infrastructure required to fly green-hydrogen aircraft.
According to Andrew Clennett, CEO of Hiringa Energy, the agreement is key to accelerating the development of hydrogen as a sustainable and renewable zero-emission fuel for the airline and New Zealand.