Air New Zealand Unveils Retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with Premium Upgrades - Travel And Tour World (2025)

Thursday, April 17, 2025

In a significant milestone for Air New Zealand, the airline’s first retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has arrived in Auckland after 184 days of upgrades at a facility in Singapore. This state-of-the-art aircraft, ZK-NZH, marks the beginning of a transformative project that will see 14 Dreamliners receive a full retrofit by the end of 2026, elevating the travel experience for passengers flying on long-haul routes.

A World-First Cabin Glow-Up

The retrofitting of the Dreamliner involved extensive research and customer testing, totaling over 2,500 hours of passenger feedback. The results are a major overhaul of the cabin layout and interior, introducing new features like the Business Premier Luxe™ seats. These luxurious seats are designed to provide even greater comfort, boasting enhanced privacy and fully lie-flat configurations, setting a new standard for premium travel on Air New Zealand.

In addition to the upgraded Business Premier seats, the retrofit includes improvements across all cabin classes. The Business Premier cabin also now features redesigned seats and enhanced in-flight entertainment systems, ensuring that all passengers enjoy a seamless, modern travel experience. The new Premium Economy and Economy cabins have also been redesigned, incorporating cutting-edge technology and design to improve the overall flying experience.

The Retrofit Process: A Detailed Transformation

The aircraft underwent a full renovation that extended from nose to tail. Key elements of the retrofit include:

• New Seats in All Cabins: The Business Premier Luxe™ seats, as well as upgraded Premium Economy and Economy seats, provide superior comfort for passengers.
• New Interiors: From carpets to curtains and lavatory amenities, every aspect of the aircraft has been reimagined, reflecting Air New Zealand’s commitment to style and functionality.
• In-Flight Entertainment System: An updated entertainment platform has been installed, offering a modern, user-friendly interface for long-haul travelers.
• Sky Pantry in Economy: A convenient addition, the Sky Pantry offers passengers an enhanced food and beverage experience in the Economy cabin.

The total number of seats in the aircraft has also been reconfigured to accommodate 272 passengers. The layout includes 4 Business Premier Luxe seats, 22 Business Premier seats, 33 Premium Economy seats, and 213 Economy seats, including 13 Skycouch™ configurations that allow families or groups to enjoy extra space and comfort.

A Vision for the Future

This first retrofitted Dreamliner represents a turning point in Air New Zealand’s history. As the airline celebrates 85 years of aviation excellence, the retrofit is a testament to its ongoing commitment to customer satisfaction and innovation. According to Jeremy O’Brien, Air New Zealand’s Chief Commercial Officer, the arrival of this aircraft is an exciting moment for both the airline’s staff and its loyal customers.

The retrofit program continues with another Boeing 787-9 already undergoing upgrades in Singapore, and the airline plans to complete seven of these aircraft by the end of the year. By 2026, all 14 Dreamliners will have received the new cabin layout, further enhancing Air New Zealand’s reputation for exceptional onboard service.

Next Steps and Customer Experience

With the aircraft now back in Auckland, Air New Zealand will perform final inflight entertainment system testing and crew ground trials in preparation for the first commercial flight in mid-May 2025. The retrofit will allow Air New Zealand to offer an enhanced flying experience, increasing the comfort and luxury for passengers on both short and long-haul international routes.

Air New Zealand’s retrofitted Dreamliner promises to set new standards in premium air travel and will serve as a beacon of the airline’s commitment to creating extraordinary travel experiences for passengers around the world. Stay tuned for updates on when these flights will be available for booking and where this newly retrofitted aircraft will be flying to next.