Air New Zealand has unveiled its first fully retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, marking a major milestone for the airline. The aircraft, registered as ZK-NZH, completed an extensive upgrade and is set to fly its first route from Auckland to Brisbane on 19 May 2025. Later that day, it will begin its inaugural long-haul service from Auckland to San Francisco.
This retrofit is the first full “nose-to-tail” upgrade of a 787-9 Dreamliner in the world. It also introduces Air New Zealand’s first new onboard product in over 15 years. The upgrade took 184 days to complete in Singapore and was designed based on extensive research and passenger feedback to enhance the travel experience.
The cabin now features redesigned seats across all classes. Business Premier Luxe is a new product offering more privacy and comfort. Business Premier seats include sliding privacy screens, wireless charging, and 24-inch entertainment screens. The Luxe version adds fully closing doors and larger beds.
Premium Economy seats have also been improved for greater privacy and comfort. They include fixed outer shells and better storage options. Economy class passengers will enjoy inflight entertainment screens that are 50% larger, extra legroom choices, and smart storage features for convenience.
The upgraded inflight entertainment system offers 4K HD screens, Bluetooth audio pairing, and mobile device integration. Passengers can control the system remotely and use Picture-in-Picture mode to multitask.
After this launch, a second Boeing 787-9 is being retrofitted in Singapore. Air New Zealand plans to upgrade seven aircraft by the end of 2025 and will complete the retrofit of its entire 14-plane 787-9 fleet by the end of 2026.
These newly upgraded Dreamliners will mainly fly routes between Auckland and Brisbane, San Francisco, Rarotonga, and Vancouver. More routes will be added as the retrofit program continues.
Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran said, “This retrofit is a major step forward for our airline, showing our commitment to innovation and to our customers. The design reflects New Zealand’s culture and hospitality, offering a refreshed experience for travelers from home and abroad.”
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