Air New Zealand to start demonstration electric flights in April
December 13, 2024
Air New Zealand will start technical demonstration flights of a Beta Technologies ALIA CX300 battery-powered aircraft from April 2025. The programme will initially be based out of Hamilton airport where it will complete a series of proving flights, the carrier states. From there, the Air New Zealand and Beta teams will gradually expand flights to surrounding airports before making the journey to Wellington, where it will complete flights designed to replicate the cargo operation planned in 2026 with New Zealand Post. The programme will allow the airline to understand how this new technology performs in New Zealand before it plans to use the type to fly cargo between Wellington and Blenheim in 2026. The ALIA CX300 is a five-passenger conventional take-off and landing aircraft powered by a single electric motor that has a maximum range of 336nm (622 km). Air New Zealand adds that it has invested in 60kW mobile chargers (to be based at Hamilton, Wellington and Blenheim) that will recharge the ALIA CX300 in around 90 minutes. "We're so thrilled to be moving into the next generation of aviation," says the airline's chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer Kiri Hannifin. "This future is one where we can fulfil our purpose to connect New Zealanders but with a much lower emissions – something we are deeply committed to expediating as quickly as we can to help meet our 2050 net-zero carbon-emissions target."
FAA extends Haiti flight ban until March 2025
December 13, 2024
The US Federal Aviation Administration is extending a ban on flights in Haitian airspace until March. The agency will renew the notice to air missions (NOTAM) prohibiting operations below 10,000 feet in specified areas of Haiti until 12 March, it says in a statement. In November, the FAA issued a NOTAM prohibiting flights to Haiti for 30 days, after several US-operated aircraft, including some in service with JetBlue, Spirit Airlines and American Airlines were hit by gunfire. Schedules data shows that the only flights operating between the two countries are thrice-weekly Sunrise Airways services between Miami and Cap-Haitien. In March 2025, schedules show that 30 weekly flights are set to operate between the USA and Haiti by Sunrise, JetBlue and The US Federal Aviation Administration is extending a ban on flights in Haitian airspace until March. The agency will renew the notice to air missions (NOTAM) prohibiting operations below 10,000 feet in specified areas of Haiti until 12 March.
KLM grows regional network
December 12, 2024
KLM Cityhopper will launch flights to Slovenian capital Ljubljana, Exeter in the UK and French city Biarritz in 2025. Ljubljana and Exeter will be served daily from Amsterdam starting 30 March, the SkyTeam carrier says. The route to Biarritz will be operated from 19 April, with daily flights during peak season and twice-weekly service in the winter months.