The Air New Zealand Dreamliner fleet will embark on the world-first, nose-to-tail makeover of a Boeing B787-9 with its first aircraft jetting off to Singapore to be retrofitted with all-new cabin interiors, including the brand-new Business Premier Luxe.
All 14 of the airline’s B787-9 aircraft will be retrofitted one at a time by ST Engineering over the next two years with the first Air New Zealand Dreamliner due back in early 2025.
The first Air New Zealand Dreamliner in the retrofit program will have existing interiors removed, including the seats, inflight entertainment system, carpet, curtains and toilet wallpaper, and replaced with all-new product.
The scope will include new seats in every cabin, including the new Business Premier Luxe seats in the redesigned Business Premier cabin, new carpet throughout, new curtains between cabins and galleys, new toilet wallpaper and amenities, new inflight entertainment screens and system and a Sky Pantry installed in the Economy cabin.
Additionally, all 14 aircraft will be reconfigured to have 272 seats with four Business Premier Luxe seats, 22 Business Premier seats, 33 Premium Economy seats and 213 Economy seats, including 13 of the Economy Skycouch.
Currently, Air New Zealand’s B787-9 aircraft have two different configurations – nine aircraft with 302 seats and five aircraft with 275 seats.
Air New Zealand General Manager of Strategy, Networks & Fleet Baden Smith said the first aircraft’s arrival in Singapore marked a milestone for the much-anticipated project.
“In 2014, Air New Zealand was the launch customer for the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. A decade on, it feels fitting that we’re the first airline in the world to retrofit these aircraft nose-to-tail with a new interior,” he said.
ST Engineering’s EVP & Head of Aerospace MRO Tan Eng Shu said: “We are excited to welcome the first of the 14 Boeing 787-9 aircraft to our Singapore facilities for the much-anticipated major refresh of Air New Zealand’s Dreamliner fleet.”
“We are able to support their Dreamliner fleet’s lifecycle requirements, from maintenance work to now what would be the world’s first full cabin retrofit on a Boeing 787-9. We look forward to enhancing our partnership and being part of the new Dreamliner experience with Air New Zealand.”
For more info, head to airenewzealand.com
