Swedish electric airplane developer Heart Aerospace is pleased to announce it has been selected as a long-term partner for Air New Zealand’s Mission Next Gen Aircraft partnership for the replacement of the airline’s Q300 domestic fleet with a more sustainable option from 2030.

Heart Aerospace was selected alongside Airbus, ATR, Embraer, and Universal Hydrogen. Air New Zealand’s 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.

As a long-term partner, Heart Aerospace will over the coming years work alongside Air New Zealand to make flying these aircraft a reality. “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. We could not be prouder to have been selected as a long-term strategic partner on their journey towards net zero. At Heart Aerospace we say the real innovation is getting it done, and together we will,” said Anders Forslund, co-founder, and CEO of Heart Aerospace.

Air New Zealand’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Kiri Hannifin says “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 kilometers, an extended range of 400 kilometers with 30 passengers and flexibility to fly up to 800 kilometers with 25 passengers, all including typical airline reserves. Heart Aerospace expects to deliver its first ES-30 aircraft in 2028.

“We firmly believe that the 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”.