Heart Aerospace selected for Air New Zealand’s Mission Next Gen Aircraft
Swedish electric airplane developer Heart Aerospace has been selected as long-term partner for Air New Zealand’s Mission Next Gen Aircraft partnership for the replacement of the airline’s Q300 domestic fleet from 2030 alongside Airbus, ATR, Embraer, and Universal Hydrogen.
Mission Next Gen Aircraft was created to accelerate the development of zero emissions aircraft technologies, as well as the infrastructure required to make these a reality for commercial aviation in New Zealand.
Heart Aerospace co-founder and CEO Anders Forslund commented: “Air New Zealand is truly leading the way with its efforts to reduce emissions from air travel, and we are impressed by the diligence with which they approach this challenge. At Heart Aerospace we say the real innovation is getting it done, and together we will.”
Air New Zealand chief sustainability officer Kiri Hannifin added: “Air New Zealand has 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.”
“We want to be a leader in the roll out of zero emissions aircraft in New Zealand. Having Heart Aerospace 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.”
Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-30, a regional electric airplane with a standard seating capacity of 30 passengers driven by electric motors with battery derived energy. The ES-30 will have a fully electric zero emissions range of 200 kilometres, an extended range of 400 kilometres with 30 passengers and flexibility to fly up to 800 kilometres with 25 passengers, all including typical airline reserves. Heart Aerospace expects to deliver its first ES-30 aircraft in 2028.
“We believe that a collaborative approach is the only way to ensure we have a sustainable future for aviation,” said Simon Newitt, Chief Commercial Officer at Heart Aerospace. “Together we will be able to bring an affordable, accessible and responsible product to the flying public of New Zealand”.
In December 2022, Air New Zealand announced four world-leading innovators it will be working with on its mission to have its first zero emissions demonstrator flight, either cargo or passenger, take to the skies from 2026: Eviation, BETA Technologies, VoltAero and Cranfield Aerospace.
