Air New Zealand Starts Trials With Beta's CX300 Electric Aircraft

Air New Zealand has begun a series of test flights with Beta Technologies’ Alia CX300 electric aircraft. On October 17, the carrier flew the six-seater on an initial flight from Tauranga Airport before flying it 43 nm to Hamilton Airport where it will be based until December when it is due to relocate to Wellington International Airport.

The U.S. manufacturer is leasing the aircraft to Air New Zealand so that it can be evaluated as part of the Star Alliance operator’s Next Generation Aircraft program. In December 2024, the airline confirmed an earlier agreement to buy up to 23 Alia CX300s, saying that it aimed to be ready to launch commercial cargo operations in 2026.

While the CX300 is based at Hamilton Airport, which is on New Zealand’s north island, it will be used for a series of flights in a range of conditions and altitudes. From December, the technical demonstration will continue from Wellington with 45-nm flights to and from Blenheim, which is across the Cook Strait on the country’s south island.

Helicopter group Bristow start operational trials with a CX300 in August as it prepares to deploy the aircraft on routes in Norway. Vermont-based Beta is also developing an eVTOL aircraft called the Alia 250, but aims to certify the conventional takeoff and landing CX300 model first in 2026.

In late September, Beta confirmed plans for an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. In a follow-up filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 15, the company reported that it plans to offer 25 million shares priced at between $27 and $33, equating to a potential raise of between $675 million and $825 million. It recently reached strategic partnership agreements with General Dynamics and GE Aerospace, with the latter having invested $300 million in the start-up.