Air New Zealand has changed the start date for deploying its newly configured Boeing 787-9 aircraft on the Tokyo/Narita–Auckland route in New Zealand to May 24. The airline had initially planned to begin deployment on May 17.
The aircraft is configured with a total of 272 seats: 4 “Business Premier Luxe” suites with doors, 22 “Business Premier” seats, 33 premium economy class seats, and 213 economy class seats including 13 Economy Skycouch rows.
The front-row business class “Business Premier Luxe” seats feature fully enclosed doors for enhanced privacy and wider bed space. These seats can be selected for an additional fee when booking Business Premier.
The business class “Business Premier” seats have been completely redesigned in terms of angle and layout, and now feature sliding privacy screens, wireless charging, and 24-inch in-flight entertainment screens. The center seats are equipped with sliding partitions and a headrest lift function that is convenient for watching movies or reading.
The premium economy class uses fixed shell-type seats with side wings on both sides and ample storage space. In economy class, the monitors are 50 percent larger than before and come with snack trays and expandable holders for passports and documents. An Economy Stretch section with extra legroom is also available.
All classes feature 4K high-resolution monitors and Bluetooth audio connectivity, allowing passengers to use their smartphones like remote controls.
The first retrofitted Boeing 787-9 aircraft entered service in May 2025, and a total of 14 aircraft are planned to be updated to the new configuration. Seven aircraft are expected to be retrofitted within the year, with completion of all aircraft targeted by the end of the year.
