Air New Zealand’s all-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner cabin experience is now available to book, with new seats in every cabin, an all-new IFE system with larger 4K HD screens, Bluetooth audio pairing, more stowage options, and additional privacy in the premium cabins.
The airline’s retrofitted B787-9 (ZK-NZH) is currently in Auckland undergoing final testing before it begins revenue operations on Monday 19th May, flying Auckland to Brisbane. Later that evening, the aircraft will complete its first long haul service, 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 Greg Foran, CEO of Air New Zealand. “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.
The airline’s second B787-9 is now in Singapore undergoing its retrofit, with a total of seven aircraft expected to be completed by the end of the year. All 14 B787-9s in Air New Zealand’s fleet are due to be updated to the new cabin layout by the end of 2026.
The B787-9s featuring the new interiors will predominantly fly between Auckland and Brisbane, San Francisco, Rarotonga, and Vancouver, with more routes to follow as more of the aircraft retrofits are rolled out.
“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,” added Foran. “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.”
So what do the new cabin experiences bring?
Business Premier
The new Business Premier seats have a new angle and layout, giving additional space and privacy, enhanced with the sliding privacy screens. The seats also have 24in IFE displays, wireless charging, and a full lie-flat recline function, and a clever headrest lift for comfort when watching entertainment, working or reading.
Business Premier Luxe
As an upgrade option, there are four enhanced, all-new seats in the front row of the Business Premier cabin. Business Premier Luxe can booked as a paid seat select product when purchasing a Business Premier seat.
Business Premier Luxe has all the features of Business Premier, along with a full closing door, a larger bed, and additional space – with room for two to dine together.
Premium Economy
The new premium economy cabin gives customer more privacy and storage. A useful feature is the fixed outer shell of the seats, which means that reclining won’t affect the person behind. Side wings on the headrest provide extra privacy.
Economy
The IFE screens in the economy-class seatbacks are now 50% larger, and can be controlled (as in every class) by using your phone like a remote, with features including building watchlist, tracking your flight, or multitasking with picture-in-picture functionality. Clever stowage options include a small tray table for snacks or your phone, and an elastic holder for a passport or papers. There is also a new Economy Stretch sub-class as an upgrade option.
