Air New Zealand has unveiled its first retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registration ZK-NZH. It is now in Auckland going through final testing before entering service on Monday, May 19. The first flight will be from Auckland to Brisbane. That same evening, the plane will enter long-haul service with a flight from Auckland to San Francisco.
“This aircraft spent 184 days in Singapore being retrofitted, the result of several years of extensive research, innovation, and design by our team to deliver a world-class onboard experience,” said Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran.
“This is the first ever full nose-to-tail retrofit of a 787-9 Dreamliner and marks the introduction of our first new onboard product in over 15 years. We’ve completely reimagined the experience of flying with Air New Zealand, incorporating elegant design elements, innovative Kiwi touches, and features informed by feedback from thousands of customers.
“As the national carrier, it’s an immense privilege to showcase the best of New Zealand, and this is woven into every detail of our cabin design – from the textures you touch to the spaces you relax in, every element is a nod to our home, Aotearoa.”
Second Boeing 787-9 Is In Singapore Undergoing Retrofit
Air New Zealand will update 14 Boeing 787-9s in its fleet to the new cabin layout. The airline’s second 787-9 is already in Singapore undergoing its retrofit. The airline expects to update seven planes by the end of the year. This project should be completed by the end of 2026.
New Seats In Every Cabin
Air New Zealand passengers will find new seats in every cabin. They will experience an all-new in-flight entertainment system with larger screens. Passengers will also find more clever stowage options to keep personal items handy in-flight. There is also extra privacy in the premium cabins.
New Cabins With Multiple Seating Options
Business Premier
Our new Business Premier seats have a new angle and layout, meaning more privacy and space.
- Sliding privacy screens, wireless charging, and a 24″ in-flight entertainment screen
- Middle seats with a sliding divider, perfect for travel companions
- Full lie-flat recline with a clever headrest lift for prime movie-watching or mid-flight novels
Business Premier Luxe
This new class features four all-new seats in the front row of the Business Premier cabin. Business Premier Luxe can be booked as a paid seat select product when purchasing a Business Premier seat.
It has all the features of Business Premier, plus:
- Full closing door, a larger bed, and extra space with room for two to dine
Premium Economy
The airline’s new Premium Economy gives you more privacy and storage options to help make the space your own.
- All seats have a fixed outer shell, meaning your recline doesn’t impact the person behind you
- Side wings on the seat offer extra privacy
- More storage space keeps your essentials within easy reach
Economy
The new economy class features include:
- Clever stowage options include a small tray table for snacks or your phone, and an elastic holder for your passport or papers
- 50% bigger in-flight entertainment screens, clever little snack trays, and the new Economy Stretch which offers more legroom.
New In-Flight Entertainment On Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Digital Innovation & Inflight Entertainment
The airline has introduced digital innovation in every cabin. Features include:
- 4K HD screens with Bluetooth audio pairing
- Use your phone like a remote, build a watchlist, track your flight, or multitask with Picture-in-Picture functionality
Air New Zealand details the features of its new in-flight entertainment system in this video:
Where To Fly The Air New Zealand Retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Planes retrofitted with the new Air New Zealand cabin experience will fly mainly between Auckland and Brisbane, San Francisco, Rarotonga, and Vancouver. More routes will follow as more of the retrofits are completed.
