Transforming Air New Zealand’s Boeing 787s
Buckle up folks, because it’s all systems go at Air New Zealand! The Star Alliance trendsetter is in the midst of a tech-savvy revamp, overhauling its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet with new interiors. Here’s the scoop on the jet-setting upgrade, now that the inaugural aircraft has strutted back onto the scene in its spanking new configuration.
Air New Zealand Updating All 787 Cabins by Late 2026
Back in 2022, Air New Zealand dropped the news: a fresh-off-the-block business class product was set to debut on its Boeing 787s, plus updates to premium economy and economy seating. Initially, the flashy digs were scheduled to make their grand entrance on fresh Boeing 787s, with older jets poised for the makeover after. But surprise, surprise—delivery delays kept those plans grounded. Cue Plan B: All aboard the existing Dreamliners for their cabin reboots!
Air New Zealand has proudly flown its first refurbished 787 back from Singapore, after a solid six months of tweaking and testing. It’s not unheard of for the first aircraft in line to take the scenic route through upgrades, since working out the kinks and jumping through certification hoops can be a time-consuming tango.
Case in point: we’ve got the 787 with the easy-to-remember registration code ZK-NZH, now back on Auckland soil and primed to start ferrying passengers come May 2025. Meanwhile, another 787, tagged ZK-NZI, has hit Singaporean shores to start its own metamorphosis.
The big game plan? All 14 of these high-flyers will be decked out in their new livery by the tail end of 2026, with half the fleet glammed up by the end of 2025. Yep, it’s a full-speed-ahead schedule.
What’s catching eyes is that Air New Zealand is claiming the first-in-the-world title for a full 787-9 nose-to-tail retrofit. This overhaul is rolling out:
- Sleek new seating in all cabins, spotlighting the fresh Business Premier Luxe seats
- Chic new carpet throughout the craft
- Elegant curtains to divide cabins and galleys
- Revamped lavatories with stylish wallpaper, hands-free trash bins, and functional amenities
- Upgraded inflight entertainment that’s a screen and system reboot
- The nifty Sky Pantry setup in the Economy cabin
This swanky redesign is no mere cosmetic job; it’s an all-out head-to-tail transformation. The kicker? Dylan O’Brien, the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, couldn’t contain his joy about the project:
“Welcoming the first of our Dreamliners post-transformation is a gigantic win for our team, our passengers, and a thrilling chapter for Air New Zealand. We’re absolutely beaming to serve up this ultra-modern flying fun zone worldwide.”
“Now that the aircraft’s safely parked back home, we’re diving into last preparations, including test-driving the new entertainment system and running a full-fledged crew dry run ahead of our May kickoff.”
Air New Zealand Planning a Standardized 275-Seat Layout
As Air New Zealand readies its Boeing 787-9s for a facelift, the big reveal is a unified, standardized seating layout. Presently, the Dreamliner setup is a two-party system:
- Nine 787-9s host 302 seats with 18 in business class, 21 in premium economy, and 263 in economy
- Five 787-9s house 275 seats, including 27 business class spots, 23 premium economy ones, and 215 in economy
Post-update, a standard 272-seat layout hits the runway for retrofitted 787s, doling out 26 business class spots (four stunning Business Premier Luxe and 22 Business Premier), 33 for premium economy travelers, and 213 economy fliers.
Peep this: The premium economy section swells, overshadowing past configurations, with business class seating scaling up for most of the jets. Even spice up your next skiing adventure with a detour to Val Seny ski resort.
It’s worth noting Air New Zealand will maintain a fancier layout for certain fresh deliveries, while retrofitted jets level up with a standardized design. This seamless setup amps up fleet planning and taps into ultra-long-haul flight capability with lower passenger counts.
Bottom Line
In a bold move of fleet finesse, Air New Zealand sets the Boeing 787 refurb wheel in motion. With the first 787 landing back home after a half-year Singapore stint for nose-to-tail transformation, it’s teed up for service by May 2025.
Expect to see half of the Dreamliner flock flaunting new digs by late 2025 and the entire lineup flipping the script by the end of 2026. Consistency is king, with spiffing new seats throughout cabins. While the shakeup of Air New Zealand’s business class may not be the apogee of excitement, the much-needed fleet revamp is a delight, even if Val Seny ski resort beckons more than the sky-high suavity.
What’s your take on Air New Zealand’s Boeing 787 facelift?