In this episode of our ‘Sustainability in the Air’ podcast, Billie Moore, Chief Executive at NZ Airports Association, speaks with SimpliFlying’s CEO Shashank Nigam and shares insights into New Zealand’s distinctive approach to sustainable aviation and the challenges of operating in an isolated island nation.
In essence, NZ Airports serves as a not-for-profit central hub for coordination, advocacy, and knowledge sharing among New Zealand’s 46 airports, with a particular focus on navigating the challenges of sustainability and decarbonisation in the aviation sector.
Here are the key highlights of the conversation with Billie Moore:
New Zealand’s unique geographical context and aviation importance (2:35)
Airport-led sustainability initiatives like solar farms (15:10)
The need for New Zealand-specific economic modelling (25:42)
Electric aircraft potential in New Zealand (28:18)
Christchurch Airport’s Hydrogen Consortium (31:12)
Air New Zealand’s Flight NZ0 project and airport engagement (31:12)
Rapid Fire! (42:46)
Keep reading for a quick overview of the episode.
Why air travel matters in New Zealand
New Zealand’s geographical isolation sets it apart in the global aviation landscape, presenting both challenges and opportunities.
“There’s a great image I often refer to, which compares a 2,000 kilometre radius around Wellington, our capital, with a 2,000 kilometre radius around Berlin. The New Zealand image is just ocean, no large land masses in that radius.”
This isolation makes air travel not just important, but essential for New Zealand. As Moore emphasises, aviation “reshapes our geography. It lets us live global lives.” The impact of aviation extends far beyond mere convenience. “It’s essential to our economy as a long haul tourism destination and exporter. It’s essential to our social well-being. People are able to connect with family and friends, emergency and medical response,” she explains.
The reliance on air travel is reflected in the frequency of flights taken by New Zealanders. Moore notes that the average New Zealander might fly four times a year, which is pretty high globally. This high frequency is a result of both the country’s geography – multiple islands with limited land transportation options – and its economic dependence on tourism and exports.
Moreover, New Zealand’s mountainous terrain and skinny landmass have historically limited the development of extensive rail networks, making air travel even more crucial for domestic connectivity. As a result, finding sustainable aviation solutions is essential to maintain New Zealand’s connectivity while addressing environmental concerns.
Five ways New Zealand is thinking about sustainable aviation
1. Electric aircraft and green hydrogen opportunities
New Zealand’s unique geography and route network present significant opportunities for the adoption of new technologies, particularly electric aircraft and green hydrogen.
“One of the special features of New Zealand is that, I think 60% of Air New Zealand’s domestic flights, for instance, are turboprops, less than 350 kilometres.”
This high proportion of short-haul flights makes New Zealand an ideal testing ground for electric aircraft technology. The potential for electric aircraft is particularly exciting for regional connectivity. Moore elaborates: “We can see a real gap in regional New Zealand around 19 to 50 seater aircraft and routes that could manage that kind of size of aircraft.”
In terms of green hydrogen, Christchurch Airport is leading the charge with its Hydrogen Consortium, which is exploring the entire ecosystem required for green hydrogen flights, from production to storage and use. Moore describes this initiative as “exactly the kind of collaboration I think we’re going to need to see more of,” bringing together partners like Airbus, Air New Zealand, and others to evaluate the potential of green hydrogen for aviation.
2. Sustainable Aviation Fuel development
While sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is crucial for decarbonising long-haul flights, New Zealand is far from current SAF production centres. Moreover, its relatively small market size could make it less attractive for SAF producers.
“Airlines flying to New Zealand are highly cost-sensitive. It’s often said, for instance, that because of the length of flights to New Zealand, airlines usually have to put two aircraft on the route.”
Despite these challenges, Moore sees potential in regional partnerships, particularly with Australia, to develop SAF production capabilities. She also emphasises the need for policy support to make SAF viable in New Zealand.
3. Airport-led initiatives
New Zealand’s airports are taking proactive steps towards sustainability. For example, some are investing in initiatives like solar farms – such as at smaller regional airports like Gisborne and Hamilton – to address their scope 1 and 2 emissions, and to prepare to address scope 3 emissions in the future. Moore explains that airports are doing this without government funding. New Zealand’s system, she says, is “user-pays, without any major government grants for airport infrastructure”.
“Now [solar energy] may be powering [airport] terminals and ancillary buildings, for instance. In the future, it may be able to help power and recharge aircraft.”
Moore also mentions Gisborne Airport’s terminal, which “has the highest level of green building standards.” These initiatives, of course, are not happening in isolation. Moore emphasises the role of NZ Airports in facilitating knowledge sharing. “A huge part of our work these days is working with airports to share their innovations across the network,” she explains.
4. Policy considerations
The conversation around sustainable aviation in New Zealand extends to complex policy considerations, including the debate about whether to include international aviation emissions in the country’s 2050 emissions target. Moore articulates a nuanced stance on this issue: “We’ve said we support the idea in principle, but more work needs to be done about the impacts and how it can be aligned with multilateral efforts on aviation decarbonisation.”
This cautious approach reflects the unique challenges faced by New Zealand as a geographically isolated country heavily dependent on long-haul flights. “We are committed to seeing action through ICAO, CORSIA, and multilateral approaches as well. So we have to, particularly as a long haul country, understand where country-based approaches might create distortions in that,” Moore explains,
“We like to compare ourselves with the US, UK, EU, but when it comes to aviation, we’re not the same at all. We are isolated, much less competition in the system, and much further from SAF access, for instance.”
The policy landscape also includes considerations around establishing regulatory processes that enable the development of a sustainable aviation ecosystem.
5. The implications of Air New Zealand’s dropped targets
The recent announcement by Air New Zealand to drop its 2030 emissions target represents a significant shift in the landscape of sustainable aviation in New Zealand. This development underscores the practical challenges in achieving ambitious short-term targets, particularly in terms of procuring new, fuel-efficient aircraft and accessing SAF.
While this news might seem to contradict Moore’s earlier assertion that the transition to sustainable aviation must happen for New Zealand, it actually reinforces many of the points she makes about the complexities of sustainable aviation. This development further emphasises Moore’s point about the need for New Zealand-specific economic modelling and careful consideration of the impacts of various decarbonisation strategies.
However, this setback doesn’t negate the innovative approaches and collaborative efforts that Moore highlights. If anything, it may intensify the need for the “radical collaboration” she advocated for, potentially spurring more urgent efforts in areas like electric aircraft for short-haul flights and the exploration of green hydrogen technology.
As Moore states, “We can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”
‘Sustainability in the Air’ is the world’s leading podcast dedicated to sustainable aviation. Through in-depth conversations with top aviation leaders, we break through the clutter and provide a clear roadmap for a net-zero future.
