Air New Zealand’s Beta Alia electric aircraft trial puts social licence to the test - Sarah Churstain

PremiumOpinionHome / Business / Companies / AirlinesOpinion bySarah ChurstainNZ Herald·29 Aug, 2026 03:00 AM6 mins to readSarah Churstain is a partner at Ford Sumner LawyersThe Beta Alia CX300 arrived in New Zealand in late 2025. Video / Mike ScottThe optics were great: an all-electric aircraft in a familiar airline livery superimposed over a shot of Wellington Harbour (on a good day). It was a promo shot for Air New Zealand’s Beta Alia trial, put out by Wellington Airport, one of the airline’s partners in the project. The AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.