Embraer and Air New Zealand (ANZ) have signed an agreement to “collaborate on next-generation sustainable aircraft programmes”.
As part of the agreement ANZ will join Embraer’s Energia Advisory Group – a group of airlines, lessors, manufacturers and other aviation experts advising Embraer’s Energia project developing sustainable aircraft for the future.
The project is exploring “a range of sustainable concepts to carry up to 50 passengers”, taking into consideration “a number of energy sources, propulsion architectures and airframe architectures to reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent starting from 2030”.
The two firms will also become long term partners in ANZ’s Mission Next Gen Aircraft initiative, working together on design requirements “to accelerate the development and introduction of zero emissions aircraft technology for regional fleet in New Zealand”.
Air New Zealand recently announced plans to partner with Eviation, Beta, VoltAero and Cranfield Aerospace in the fields of electric, green hydrogen and hybrid aircraft to launch its first zero emissions demonstrator flight.
The goal is to develop the technology and associated infrastructure required for flying zero emission aircraft from 2026.
Air New Zealand announces partners for zero emission aircraft
The carrier’s chief sustainability officer Kiri Hannifin said that the airline had “bold sustainability goals that won’t be met by a ‘business as usual’ approach”.
“Mission Next Gen Aircraft aims to accelerate the technology and infrastructure needed to decarbonise our domestic flights, by joining forces with the world’s leading aircraft developers, innovators and infrastructure providers,” said Hannifin.
“We want to be a leader in the roll out of zero emissions aircraft in New Zealand. Having Embraer as one of our long-term partners will grow our collective understanding of zero emissions aircraft technology as it develops and will give them the confidence they are developing a product that’s viable for us.”
