Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

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Air New Zealand remains committed to exploring the introduction of electric and hybrid-electric aircraft despite an announcement this week that it is scrapping a net-zero carbon reduction target for 2030. A spokesperson for the carrier told AIN it is “still progressing all our work on next generation aircraft” when asked about the status of cooperation agreements it reached in December 2022 with Eviation, Beta Technologies, VoltAero, and Cranfield Aerospace Solutions.
At the time, as part of its Mission Next Gen Aircraft program, the airline signed a letter of intent to purchase three aircraft, and options for another 20, from at least one of the four companies in the partnership. In the U.S., Beta is developing a five-passenger piloted eVTOL aircraft called Alia, plus a fixed-wing&nbsp;version, and Eviation is working on a nine-passenger fixed-wing regional airliner. France-based VoltAero is seeking to bring a family of hybrid-electric aircraft to market, while in the UK Cranfield is developing hydrogen-powered versions of the Britten-Norman Islander.
Subsequently, on December 9, 2023, Air New Zealand announced a <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2024-03-13/air-new-zealand-will-operate-betas-alia-electric-aircraft-2026">firm commitment with Beta</a> for a "financially-backed purchase" of three of the fixed-wing version of the Alia. The carrier said it aimed to start flying a demonstrator version for cargo flights by 2026 through a partnership with NZ Post.
Air New Zealand's change of plan with its carbon reduction strategy was confirmed with a July 29, announcement that it is withdrawing from the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and the associated carbon intensity reduction target set for 2030. The carrier said will now consider an alternative near-term carbon emissions reduction target while stressing that it is still committed to meeting the longer-term 2050 net-zero carbon target.
“Many of the levers needed to meet the target, including the availability of new aircraft, the affordability and availability of alternative jet fuels, and global and domestic regulatory and policy support, are outside the airline’s direct control and remain challenging,” it said in a statement.
Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran cited potential delays in sourcing new, more fuel-efficient airliners as key factors behind the change of plan. Both Airbus and Boeing, along with many of their key suppliers, have acknowledged ongoing supply chain issues that are restricting their output of new aircraft. The world's two biggest airframers are also have yet to commit to plans for new-generation narrowbody airliners to enter service in the 2030s.
“It is possible the airline may need to retain its existing fleet for longer than planned due to global manufacturing and supply chain issues that could potentially slow the introduction of newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft into the fleet,” Foran commented. “As such and given so many levers needed to meet the target are outside our control, the decision has been made to retract the 2030 target and withdraw from the SBTi network immediately.”
This article was updated on August 2 to include more complete information about Air New Zealand's agreement with Beta Technologies.

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