Air New Zealand Enhances Passenger Experience with Boeing 787-9 Retrofit

Air New Zealand has officially launched its upgraded Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring its first significant cabin overhaul in almost 15 years. CEO Greg Foran announced this transformative project during a presentation, detailing a $35 million investment per aircraft aimed at enhancing the travel experience across all passenger classes.

Details of the Retrofit

Foran emphasized the comprehensive redesign, which incorporates various enhancements tailored to passenger comfort and modern amenities. The project’s scope reveals Air New Zealand’s commitment to improving its service as international travel rebounds.

Business Premier Luxe

The newly introduced Business Premier Luxe section boasts four exclusive seats at the cabin’s forefront. Features include:

• Retractable privacy screens for a defined personal space.
• 24-inch entertainment screens offering an extensive viewing experience.
• Fully reclining seats designed for optimal comfort, along with enhanced mattresses and thoughtful cabin acoustics.

“We focused on sleep and we’ll back ourselves to provide the best sleep you’ll get anywhere on a plane,” Foran stated.

Premium Economy Enhancements

Upgrades to the Premium Economy section include:

• Hard-shell seats designed to minimize disturbance during seat recline.
• Expanded storage areas and wing-style headrests for enhanced privacy.

Economy Class Upgrades

In the Economy Class, Air New Zealand is introducing:

• 13.3-inch entertainment screens that are 50% larger than previous models.
• New systems aimed at reducing common passenger frustrations.
• What is claimed to be the world’s largest economy-class entertainment screen.

Technological Integration

The retrofit program includes a unified entertainment system that allows passengers to operate their personal devices as remote controls, facilitating movie selection, gaming, and flight tracking. Foran also provided insight into the airline’s plans for complimentary Wi-Fi across nearly its entire international fleet.

“We’ll be the first in the world actually to have Starlink operating in a turboprop plane,” said Foran, discussing an upcoming trial of SpaceX’s satellite internet service.

Innovative Lavatory Design

The lavatories have also been revamped, now featuring decorative bird-themed wallpaper, reinforcing the airline’s connection to New Zealand’s natural beauty.

Inaugural Flight Routes

The first retrofitted aircraft, ZK-NZH, is set to commence operations on May 19, flying between Auckland and Brisbane before continuing to San Francisco, marking the introduction of the redesigned interiors on long-haul routes.

This retrofitting initiative aligns with Air New Zealand’s strategic vision to enhance passenger comfort and service quality, solidifying its position as a premium airline in the trans-Pacific market.

Stay Updated

For further updates on Air New Zealand and other aviation news, follow us on our social media channels.