Air NZ’s first electric plane arrives at Wellington Airport
· SCOOPNews from Wellington Airport
Wellington Airport has welcomed the arrival of Air New Zealand’s first BETA electric aircraft as the start of a new era for electric aviation at Wellington Airport.
“It’s a big day for us and for the future of aviation in Wellington,” says Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke.
“Our team has been working for over a year to provide the infrastructure and get everything ready for this exciting milestone in aircraft technology.
“Wellington Airport is ideally placed to be the centre of electric aviation given our role as a domestic hub with so many short distance flights within the range of electric aircraft.
“We share Air New Zealand’s vision for the future and are proud to be hosting this new technology along with Marlborough Airport.”
Air New Zealand’s General Manager of Strategy, Networks and Fleet, Baden Smith says arriving in Wellington is another exciting milesone in the airline’s technical demonstrator programme with BETA Technologies.
“We’ve had a valuable two month period of proving flights in Hamilton and have built knowledge to help understand how electric aircraft can safely and practically integrate into New Zealand’s airspace.
“This next phase prepares us for Cook Strait crossings with flights planned between Wellington and Blenheim – which provides further information as we evaluate the future commerical viability of small gague next generation aircraft.”
“Throughout the programme we’ve worked closely with the Civil Aviation Authority, and airport partners to safely operate and monitor the aircraft in New Zealand conditions and we’re very grateful for their partnership and collaboration.”