Air New Zealand announced that its first electric aircraft took flight in Tauranga.
The aircraft, a Beta Alia CX300, was made in the United States and manufactured in Burlington, Vermont.
It was brought to New Zealand just last week.
Air New Zealand stated that the aircraft was blessed during a sunrise ceremony and is anticipated to fly to Hamilton Airport.
The aircraft will remain stationed at Hamilton until it moves to Wellington in December.
“This first flight marks the powerful intersection of pragmatic design and operational innovation,” Beta Technologies director of flight operations, Chris Caputo, said.
“We built the Alia CX300 on a foundation of simplicity to ensure a fast, safe, and efficient path to commercial service.”
He said the collaboration was enabling Air New Zealand to develop a practical operational model for global operators committed to delivering affordable and sustainable connectivity to regional communities.
Air New Zealand has leased the aircraft for four months for a technical demonstrator programme. This allowed the airline, its partners, and regulators to understand how the aircraft would operate under New Zealand conditions.
Air NZ also described this as “an opportunity for New Zealanders to see battery-electric aviation technology up close.”
While based in Hamilton, Air New Zealand and Beta will conduct a series of flights under various conditions and altitudes.
Starting in December, the aircraft will carry out flights between Wellington and Blenheim.
The Alia aircraft can carry two crew members and accommodate up to 5.6 cubic metres (about 200 cubic feet) of cargo on missions reaching approximately 398 kilometres (around 250 miles).