Air New Zealand has taken delivery of its first upgraded Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, following a 184-day refurbishment in Singapore to enhance the aircraft’s cabin.
Air New Zealand’s first retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner officially touched down in Auckland, New Zealand, on April 16, 2025, the airline announced in a statement.
According to the Auckland-based carrier, the aircraft, ZK-NZH, is the first in the airline’s 787–9 fleet to undergo this world-first, full nose-to-tail retrofit.
“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,” said Air New Zealand Chief Commercial Officer Jeremy O’Brien. “We’re so proud to deliver this new experience for those who fly with us around the world.”
The aircraft received a complete upgrade with all-new cabin interiors, including the new Business Premier Luxe seat, and redesigned Business Premier, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins.
O’Brien said the aircraft will soon undergo final preparations, which will include testing the new inflight entertainment system and conducting a complete crew ground trial to rehearse onboard service. This is all set to happen before the aircraft welcomes its first passengers in mid-May 2025.
The second 787-9 to be retrofitted with the new interiors is already in Singapore, undergoing work. 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.
6 comments
It’s a pity Kiwis weren’t used for this to help employment considering Air NZ are government owned
184 days seems like a long time to refurbish the interiors.
During its stay in Singapore, the aircraft underwent a comprehensive heavy maintenance check and was completely stripped down to accommodate the installation of a new product from top to bottom. The delay was primarily due to waiting for the necessary components to arrive for installation. This situation mirrors the lengthy process experienced years ago when they updated their 744s, where the first aircraft took considerable time to complete. Now that the first 787-9 has been finished, the process is expected to speed up, particularly with plans to complete six more this year.
I think some of the aircraft were out of service due to engine issues anyway.
I hope they are wide and more roomy then the last lot
Wake up Des, people in NZ don’t do physical work anymore, we grift and just talk about doing the “Mahi” (work). Everyone else works for the council & the govt or is a just a thief or a bludger.