Air New Zealand (ASX:AIZ, NZE:AIR) shares fell nearly 1% in Friday midday trade in Australia and New Zealand after the Thursday launch of the airline's Next Generation Aircraft technical demonstrator program in partnership with BETA Technologies.

The BETA ALIA CX300 will conduct a series of flights across the country over the next four months, starting with an intensive proving program in Hamilton before proceeding to Wellington via Taupō, Napier, and Palmerston North, with Cook Strait crossings to Blenheim planned by the end of January, the airline said in a statement released Thursday.

The program involves Air New Zealand pilots collaborating with BETA's flight operations and engineering team to conduct flights under various conditions, flight maneuvers, and routes, the airline said.