Auckland Airport is collaborating with Swedish electric airplane maker Heart Aerospace, joining the company’s advisory board to help propel innovation in sustainable aircraft.
Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-30, a 30-seat electric hybrid aircraft designed for short journeys which takes about 30 minutes to recharge via fast charging.
Auckland Airport says it will work with Heart Aerospace to share information as the technology develops, including around charging options and infrastructure.
The airport is undergoing its most significant upgrade in history, including the installation of aircraft charging facilities (ground power units) in the new airfield to the west of the airport, and as part of the development for a new integrated terminal.
Auckland Airport is taking proactive steps to help minimise aviation’s impact on the environment, including building greater resilience into the airfield to support aviation decarbonisation, says chief sustainability and master-planning officer Mary-Liz Tuck.
“We’re thrilled to be joining Heart Aerospace’s industry advisory board and contributing to the development of electric aircraft.
“The electrification of air travel and the decarbonisation pathway for aviation is certainly not straight forward, there’s no instant answer,” she says.
“It’s about taking steps over time and working together with the ecosystem of partners to help create solution-based changes.
“The start of electric aircraft will likely be in regional flights and as New Zealand’s largest airport with great connectivity around the whole country, we’re excited to be a part of this.
“We’re committed to reducing carbon emissions across our operations and infrastructure at Auckland Airport and we’ve disclosed a decarbonisation pathway to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030,” says Tuck.
“We’re proud of the work we’re doing in this space so far, for example commencing the transition of our terminal air conditioning system from gas to electric this year, as well as a solar array going atop the Transport Hub, which is currently under construction and will have a 14,000m2 rooftop.”
Heart Aerospace’s industry advisory board includes airlines, governments, leasing companies and airports from around the world – such as London City Airport and Swedavia Airports.
The board aims to bring opinions and global thinking together from the aviation eco-system and will meet three to four times a year.
“Auckland Airport has taken a holistic view on decarbonisation and all members now have the opportunity to learn from this approach and shape an ecosystem that enables the electrification of air travel,” says Heart Aerospace president and chief commercial officer Simon Newitt.
The ES-30 is in its preliminary design phase and the team is identifying key suppliers and technology solutions, says Heart Aerospace which aims to have 200km electric, a 400km extended hybrid range with 30 passengers and flexibility to fly up to 800km with 25 passengers.
Heart Aerospace has 250 firm orders for the ES-30, with options and purchase rights for an additional 120 planes along with letters of intent for a further 91 aircraft.
EVs and Beyond reports Wellington Airport is also going electric and working with Heart Aerospace.
