It’s an thrilling time for Air New Zealand, because the Star Alliance provider is within the strategy of retrofitting its complete Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet with new interiors. I wish to present an replace on this undertaking, as the primary jet has now been reconfigured.
Air New Zealand updating all 787 cabins by late 2026
In 2022, Air New Zealand introduced plans to introduce an all-new enterprise class product on its Boeing 787 fleet, along with up to date premium economic system and economic system seats.
Initially, this was alleged to debut on newly delivered Boeing 787s, with plans to then later retrofit present jets. Nevertheless, resulting from supply delays, that hasn’t labored out as deliberate. As a substitute, Air New Zealand’s new cabins are actually debuting on present jets.
Air New Zealand’s first 787 has simply returned from Singapore, after spending six months there being reconfigured. It’s regular for the primary jet to take rather a lot longer than others, since there are sometimes kinks to work out, and certification may also take a while.
Particularly, the 787 with the license plate ZK-NZH has simply returned to Auckland, and is anticipated to enter business service as of Might 2025. In the meantime a second 787, with the license plate ZK-NZI, has already arrived in Singapore, to endure a refresh.
The plan is for all 14 787s to be reconfigured by the top of 2026, and for half of these to already be reconfigured by the top of 2025. So it’s a reasonably aggressive retrofit schedule.
Curiously, Air New Zealand claims to be the primary airline on the earth to retrofit a 787-9 nose-to-tail. This makeover consists of:
- New seats in each cabin, together with the new Enterprise Premier Luxe seats within the Enterprise Premier cabin
- New carpet all through the plane
- New curtains between cabins and galleys
- New wallpaper, hands-free waste disposal, and amenity holders within the bathrooms
- New inflight leisure screens and system
- Sky Pantry put in within the Economic system cabin
Right here’s how Air New Zealand’s Chief Industrial Officer, Jeremy O’Brien, describes this undertaking:
“Seeing the primary of our 14 Dreamliners to endure this transformation arrive residence is a big second for our individuals, our clients, and the way forward for Air New Zealand. We’re so proud to ship this new expertise for many who fly with us around the globe.”
“Now the plane is again on residence soil, it’ll endure last preparations together with testing of its new inflight leisure system, and a full crew floor trial to rehearse onboard service earlier than welcoming clients on board for the primary time in mid-Might.”
Air New Zealand planning standardized 275-seat structure
When Air New Zealand retrofits its Boeing 787-9s, the airline will introduce a single, standardized structure. Presently the airline has two Dreamliner layouts:
- 9 787-9s have 302 seats, comprised of 18 enterprise class seats, 21 premium economic system seats, and 263 economic system seats
- 5 787-9s have 275 seats, comprised of 27 enterprise class seats, 23 premium economic system seats, and 215 economic system seats
As soon as these cabins are up to date, Air New Zealand could have a standardized structure amongst retrofitted 787s, as all 787-9s could have 272 seats. This can embrace 26 enterprise class seats (4 Enterprise Premier Luxe seats and 22 Enterprise Premier seats), 33 premium economic system seats, and 213 economic system seats.
As you possibly can see, the most important change by way of capability is that premium economic system is rising fairly a bit in comparison with each of the present configurations. In the meantime enterprise class capability can be rising significantly in comparison with a majority of the jets.
Observe that Air New Zealand could have a extra premium structure on some newly delivered 787s, however all of the retrofitted ones could have the identical configuration. Having a standardized structure shall be helpful by way of fleet planning. Moreover, the decrease capability of the jet shall be useful by way of having the ability to function extremely lengthy haul flights.
Backside line
Air New Zealand has began the method of reconfiguring its Boeing 787 fleet. The primary 787 has simply returned to New Zealand, after spending round six months in Singapore present process a nose-to-tail retrofit undertaking. The aircraft is anticipated to enter service in Might 2025.
By the top of 2025, we must always see half of Air New Zealand’s Dreamliner fleet with new cabins, and by the top of 2026, we must always see Air New Zealand’s complete Dreamliner fleet with new cabins. The planes will even be configured in a regular structure, with new seats throughout cabins. Whereas Air New Zealand’s new enterprise class is hardly essentially the most thrilling product on the horizon, I’m nonetheless glad to see this fleet get some updates, as that is lengthy overdue.
What do you make of Air Zealand retrofitting its Boeing 787 fleet?
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