Air New Zealand and New Zealand Government to invest more than $2m in sustainable aviation fuel studies
16 June 2023
This new investment follows an earlier yearlong RFP process that invited innovators to demonstrate the viability of operating a SAF plant at a commercial scale in New Zealand. The airline, along with Government officials, evaluated proposals from multiple international SAF producers to understand what technologies are available globally and how these could be transposed into the New Zealand context.
(L-R) Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran, Air New Zealand Chief Sustainability Officer Kiri Hannifin, Air New Zealand Board Director Laurissa Cooney with Tourism Minister Peeni Henare
Moving into phase two, the working group is progressing two proposals: one with LanzaJet and another with Fulcrum BioEnergy, both US-based. The next phase will further evaluate the technical, economic, supply chain, and environmental feasibility of establishing and operating a SAF production facility in New Zealand.