ATR and Air New Zealand take partnership to next level to accelerate decarbonisation of aviation
Toulouse, 8 February 2023 â Worldâs number one regional aircraft manufacturer ATR, and leading New Zealand carrier Air New Zealand, today announced they are deepening their existing partnership, on a mission to accelerate the development and introduction of low emission aircraft technology in New Zealand. This collaboration will enable both ATR and Air New Zealand to go deeper into their exploration of disruptive innovations, the result of which will be decisive to shape the future of regional aviation.
Through an initiative called âMission Next Gen Aircraftâ, Air New Zealand is partnering with several industry and academic stakeholders to replace its Q300 domestic fleet with a more sustainable option from 2030. Offering today the most responsible regional aircraft on the market, ATR has launched a feasibility study on its ATR âEVOâ concept, demonstrating its ambition to continue to drive the future of the regional market towards net-zero carbon emissions.
Air New Zealand Chief Sustainability Officer Kiri Hannifin said: âThrough our partnerships with Airbus and ATR weâve been able to deepen our understanding of the impact green hydrogen and battery hybrid aircraft may have on our network, operations and infrastructure, as well as the opportunities and challenges of flying low and zero emissions aircraft in New Zealand. Working with the worldâs leading innovators is critical to addressing the climate crisis. These partners were selected because they are taking action now to progress decarbonising the aviation industry.â
âATR fully shares Air New Zealandâs ambition to accelerate the transition towards net-zero carbon emissions. Having worked together since 2018 to explore new propulsion technologies and their impact on operations and infrastructure, we are now taking this partnership to the next level. With Mission NextGen Aircraftâ we will be supporting Air New Zealand in every step of this challenging adventure in investigating disruptive innovations to turn our commitments into tangible reality.â, says Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, ATRâs Chief Executive Officer.
ATR is also actively working on shorter-term solutions to enable ever more sustainable and affordable air connections to empower communities across the globe. The first to fly a commercial aircraft with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel in both engines, in partnership with Braathens Regional Airlines and Pratt & Whitney Canada, ATR is aiming for 100% SAF certification of its aircraft by 2025.
About Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand’s story started in 1940, first taking to the skies between Auckland and Sydney on a flying boat. Known for its warm Kiwi hospitality, today the airline has 104 operating aircraft ranging from Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A320s to ATRs and Q300s. Air New Zealand has a well-connected domestic business, connecting customers and cargo to 20 different regions around New Zealand. Internationally, the airline has direct flights to major cities across Australia, Asia, the Pacific Islands and the U.S., and through its strong relationships with alliance partners, offers customers more choice and convenience to connect further afield to hundreds of destinations. Air New Zealand has a particular focus on sustainability and its Sustainability Framework helps guide the airline’s efforts in tackling some of New Zealand’s and the world’s most complex challenges.
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About ATR
ATR is the world number one regional aircraft manufacturer with its ATR 42 and 72, the best-selling aircraft in the below 90-seat market segment. The unifying vision of the company is to accelerate sustainable connections for people, communities and businesses, no matter how remote. Flown by some 200 airlines in over 100 countries, ATR aircraft opened 160 new routes in 2023, facilitating the development of territories and enabling access to crucial services like healthcare and education. Thanks to ATRâs focus on continuous innovation and the intrinsic efficiency of the turboprop technology, ATR aircraft are the most advanced, versatile, cost-effective and lowest-emission regional aircraft on the market, emitting 45% less CO2 than similar-size regional jets. In January 2022, we flew the first ever commercial aircraft using 100% SAF in both engines. ATR is a joint-venture between Airbus and Leonardo.