Air New Zealand has just unveiled its freshly retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, set to be available for bookings starting May 7, 2025. The aircraft, identified by its registration ZK-NZH, is currently undergoing final testing in Auckland before its inaugural flight on May 19, 2025, from Auckland Airport (AKL) to Brisbane Airport (BNE).

Following a successful Trans-Tasman test flight, the aircraft is scheduled for its first long-haul journey from AKL Airport to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Greg Foran, the CEO of Air New Zealand, emphasized the culmination of years of meticulous research by the Air NZ team to provide a top-notch onboard experience, with the aircraft having spent 194 days in Singapore for the retrofit process. The airline's second 787-9 is also currently undergoing retrofit in Singapore.

The airline aims to have a total of seven retrofitted aircraft by the end of 2025, with all 14 Boeing 787-9s in its fleet scheduled for the new cabin layout by the end of 2026. Foran expressed, “This marks the introduction of our first new onboard product in over 15 years, as the first-ever full nose-to-tail retrofit of a 787-9 Dreamliner.” These revitalized Dreamliners are primarily intended for flights between Auckland and Brisbane, San Francisco, Rarotonga International Airport (RAR), and Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

With more routes expected to be disclosed as the retrofit progresses, Air New Zealand’s retrofitted B787-9 boasts updated features that include the likes of Business Premier, Business Premier Luxe, Premium Economy, and Economy. Notably, there are four new seats located in the front row of the Business Premier cabin, with passengers having the option to reserve these as a paid seat select product when booking a Business Premier seat.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates as Air New Zealand continues to enhance its fleet and onboard offerings!