Which NZ airport will be the future of Air NZ's zero-emission flights?

Air New Zealand’s upcoming zero-emission regional planes could be coming to an airport near you. Aotearoa’s national carrier has today opened expressions of interest to New Zealand airports, in which two will be selected with one being a primary base of operations for the aircraft. A secondary airport, will be a destination location for a commercial demonstrator – a demonstration flight that will prove the viability of the aircraft, set to take place in 2026. Although the 2026 demonstration is set to only carry cargo, the aim is to eventually replace its Q300 fleet – the “backbone” of the regions – come 2030. Air New Zealand Chief Sustainability Officer Kiri Hannifin said the primary airport would be the aircraft’s home. “The primary airport would be where the aircraft lives, it would be where it is maintained and stored. Basically where it is looked after,” she said. “The secondary airport would be where the plane flies to and from back to home base.” The expression of interest document states that both the primary and secondary airports that are selected will need to have at least 1200m of sealed runway with lighting, both will need to be current Air New Zealand destinations. The primary airport will need an air traffic control service and the ability to store aircraft overnight. Both international and domestic airports will be considered. In December, Air NZ unveiled four different zero-emissions planes it was looking to buy. While three of the planes use runways, like traditional aircraft, one of them stood out as a bit of a wild card – it will lift vertically. The plane is from USA-based Beta Technologies, which is developing an aircraft known as the ALIA-250.<br/>