Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International) has announced it had entered into a partnership with Zephyr Airworks, the operator of Kitty Hawk Cora autonomous and electrically-powered air taxi.

"Zephyr Airworks is leading the way in re-defining personal mobility to make it easier for all of us to get around. Zephyr Airworks' innovative technology and commitment to New Zealand make them an ideal partner for advancing the future of travel in New Zealand. Through the development of their autonomous electric air taxi Cora, the possibility of getting from A to B quickly and safely, and also relieving the impact of polluting emissions, is very real indeed," ANZ CEO Christopher Luxon said.

California-based Kitty Hawk has been working on an autonomous, electric, VTOL air taxi named Cora since 2010. In 2017, the company entered into a partnership with the New Zealand government to develop the idea in the country. Also in 2017, the first experimental aircraft conducted a fully automated flight in California.

The companies said that the initial agreement was the beginning of a "long-term relationship".