Air New Zealand has revealed the first of its completely retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, ushering in a new era of travel with an entirely reimagined onboard experience across all cabins.
From Wednesday 7 May, customers will be able to book seats on the newly configured aircraft, including the all-new Business Premier Luxe seats.
The debut aircraft, ZK-NZH, is currently undergoing final testing in Auckland before taking its inaugural flight on Monday 19 May from Auckland to Brisbane. Later that same day, it will operate its first long-haul journey from Auckland to San Francisco.
A world-first retrofit
Marking the airline’s first full nose-to-tail retrofit of a Dreamliner, the project represents the first major onboard upgrade in more than 15 years. The aircraft spent 184 days in Singapore for its transformation.
“This milestone reflects several years of research, design and customer feedback,” said Greg Foran, CEO of Air New Zealand.
“We’ve created a uniquely Kiwi onboard experience that reflects the best of Aotearoa, from the materials and textures to the intuitive design.”
What’s new onboard
The redesigned Dreamliner introduces new seating across all cabins, larger inflight entertainment screens, innovative stowage solutions, and enhanced privacy in premium seating.
Business Premier
- Sliding privacy screens, wireless charging and 24-inch inflight entertainment screens
- Middle seats with sliding dividers for couples
- Lie-flat seating with adjustable headrests for movie watching or reading
Business Premier Luxe
- Four new seats located at the front of the Business Premier cabin
- Fully closing doors, expanded sleeping space, and room for two to dine together
- Available as an upgrade on top of Business Premier fares
Premium Economy
- Fixed shell design for reclining without disturbing the passenger behind
- Side wings for added privacy
- Improved personal storage space
Economy and Economy Stretch
- 50 per cent larger entertainment screens
- New snack trays and flexible stowage options
- Elastic phone holders and Economy Stretch seats for added legroom
Digital upgrades
- 4K HD screens with Bluetooth audio pairing
- Smartphone control, picture-in-picture mode, and the ability to create custom playlists
Rollout timeline
The second 787-9 is currently undergoing its retrofit in Singapore, with seven aircraft to be completed by the end of 2025. Air New Zealand plans to update all 14 of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners by the end of 2026.
Initially, the upgraded aircraft will serve routes between Auckland and Brisbane, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Rarotonga, with additional destinations to follow as the fleet retrofit progresses.
