The Kiwi national carrier is looking to fly an electric, hydrogen or hybrid aircraft on a cargo-only demonstrator route by 2026, and expects to make an announcement around the type of aircraft it will be using by early next year.

The ninth Jetstar A321neo, VH-OFY, was delivered to Jetstar’s Melbourne base on 24 July, and has since operated domestic flights as well as services to Denpasar. Nine more are slated to arrive by the end of next year, with a further five, plus 15 A321neo XLRs, to enter the Jetstar fleet by the end of 2029.

The proposed options include allowing aircraft to both arrive and depart over Moreton Bay as a priority when conditions allow, and implementing noise-sharing alternatives to ease the nighttime impacts on communities to the north and north-east of the airport.

The surprise announcement will also see the new airline initially ‘wet lease’ aircraft, meaning another airline will operate the services under the Bonza brand.