Air New Zealand’s inaugural electric aircraft took to the skies on October 17, 2025, with the BETA ALIA CX300 completing its first test flight from Tauranga Airport (TRG).
The aircraft, manufactured by US-based aviation innovator BETA Technologies, arrived in New Zealand a week earlier, and was blessed during a sunrise ceremony in Tauranga.
The aircraft then successfully flew to Hamilton International Airport (HLZ), where it will be based before relocating to Wellington Airport (WLG) in December 2025 for an additional two months of operations.
Baden Smith, Air New Zealand’s General Manager of Fleet, Networks and Strategy, described the maiden flight as a significant milestone in the airline’s Next Generation Aircraft program and its broader innovation strategy.
“New Zealand has a proud history of aviation innovation and pushing for progress, whether it’s Richard Pearse who first opened the skies with flying machines, to the era of TEAL flying boats, through to engineers and aviators who connected us to the world,” Smith said.
“It’s incredibly special to partner with a global innovator like BETA to ensure New Zealand is a part of shaping what the future of flight might look like both here and around the world,” Smith added. “We know aviation will keep changing – it always has. This is a small, cautious step to learn and be part of that change.”
Chris Caputo, BETA Technologies’ Director of Flight Operations, emphasized the collaboration’s significance for the broader industry: “This first flight marks the powerful intersection of pragmatic design and operational innovation. We built the ALIA CX300 on a foundation of simplicity to ensure a fast, safe, and efficient path to commercial service.”
Four-Month Technical Demonstration Program
Air New Zealand has leased the ALIA CX300 for four months as part of a technical demonstrator program, designed to evaluate the aircraft’s performance in New Zealand conditions while enabling pilot and engineering familiarization.
The initiative also provides an opportunity for New Zealanders to observe battery-electric aviation technology firsthand.
While the aircraft is in Hamilton, Air New Zealand and BETA teams will conduct flights across various conditions and altitudes. In December, operations will shift to Wellington, where the aircraft will complete flights between Wellington and Blenheim.
About the ALIA CX300
The ALIA is designed as a versatile aircraft built for real-world operations. Its conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) configuration makes it compatible with existing airport infrastructure, while its battery-electric propulsion system operates quietly, with zero in-flight emissions.
Built for all-weather deployment and reliability, BETA’s CTOL aircraft can accommodate two crew members and up to 5.6 cubic meters (200 cubic feet) of cargo on missions covering approximately 398 kilometers (215 nautical miles). The aircraft has been engineered to utilize existing airport infrastructure and comply with current operational procedures to facilitate rapid adoption.
Air New Zealand plans to introduce its BETA ALIA CX300 pilots in November, following the aircraft’s arrival in Hamilton.
