The announcement of VoltAero as one of Air New Zealand's “Mission Next-Gen Aircraft” demonstration partners positions the company and its Cassio electric-hybrid aircraft as a unique solution for the airline's sustainable fleet ambitions.
VoltAero and Cassio are aligned to Air New Zealand's goal of working with world-leading innovators in introducing zero-emission passenger/cargo flights. The Cassio aircraft family provides outstanding safety with a dual source of electric-hybrid energy, along with the ability to utilize runways as short as 1,800 feet – opening the airline's regional airport network infrastructure for its operations.
Additionally, Cassio's hybrid technology offers an optimised cost-of-ownership – minimising the need for heavier battery packs that would reduce flight range, while also avoiding higher cost per kilowatt/hour and diminished battery lifetime.
VoltAero's proprietary electric-hybrid propulsion system has logged more than 10,000 km since 2019, operating in its full 600-kilowatt power definition aboard the company's Cassio 1 testbed airplane – performing flights on typical regional airline routes, as well as segments over water.
