Air New Zealand’s first retrofitted Boeing 787-9 aircraft, ZK-NZH, officially touched down in Auckland yesterday, after 18 months of research, 2500 hours of customer testing and 184 days in Singapore.
The aircraft now sports the carrier’s new business premier luxe seat (pictured) and redesigned business premier, premium economy, and economy cabins—and its arrival back home ‘is an exciting moment in the airline’s 85-year history’, says NZ’s chief commercial officer Jeremy O’Brien. “Seeing the first of our 14 Dreamliners to undergo this transformation arrive home is a huge moment for our people, our customers, and the future of Air New Zealand…”
The retrofit includes new seats in every cabin, including the new business premier luxe seats at the front of the business class cabin, new carpet and curtains, new wallpaper, hands-free waste disposal, and amenity holders in the lavatories. There’s also new in-flight entertainment screens and system and a Sky Pantry self-service snack bar, has been installed in the economy cabin. The business premier Luxe Seats offer extra space, better privacy, and a guest seat for dining or working together, while the new-look business premier has enhanced connectivity and storage and entertainment options. In premium economy there’s a new fixed shell design with better legroom and personal stowage, says NZ. Back in economy NZ says there’s more personal space, a 50% larger IFE screen, a Sky Pantry snack bar and economy stretch will be available on the retrofitted aircraft. Skynest is due to be rolled out in 2026 onboard its new 787-9 aircraft.
. . . Mid-May
The retrofitted plane will now undergo final preparations, including testing of its new in-flight entertainment system. O’Brien says there will also be a full crew ground trial to rehearse onboard service before welcoming customers on board for the first time in mid-May. The second 787-9 to be retrofitted is already in Singapore and NZ says a total of seven aircraft are expected to be completed by the end of the year. All 14 Boeing 787-9s will be updated to the new cabin layout by the end of 2026, it adds.
