Air New Zealand confirms 787-9 destinations and cabin configuration

First 787-9 in Factory at Final Body Join — The first 787-9 in final assembly. (Boeing)

Air New Zealand has confirmed the destinations its new fleet of 10 Boeing 787-9 aircraft will initially fly to as Shanghai and Tokyo, while it will also service some mid-haul destinations such as Perth, Honolulu and Papeete.

Air New Zealand is the launch customer for the 787-9, the first of which is due to roll off the production line next month.

Announcing the services, Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon said: “This modern flexible fuel-efficient aircraft will not only replace our current fleet of Boeing 767s, it also represents a significant growth opportunity for our business and opens up the prospect of expanding our Pacific Rim footprint.

“Given our 787-9’s will be multiple-purpose aircraft – operating bothlong and mid-haul sectors – we’ve put a lot of research effort into coming up with four distinct seating selections that meet the customer expectations across the markets it will serve.”

The Business Premier cabin will feature Air New Zealand’s signature chalk-coloured luxurious leather armchair that converts to a lie-flat bed complete with memory foam mattress, duvet and two full-size pillows.
In the Premium Economy cabin, the airline has worked with US seat designer Zodiac on a customised seat best described as ‘Business-lite’. The leather seat will have a 41” pitch, a generous 5” wide armrest and a leg rest and extendable foot support which will allow passengers to really stretch out and relax.
The Economy cabin will feature 16 rows of Air New Zealand’s unique and highly popular Kiwi-designed Skycouch seats. This is a row of three seats that converts into a sofa-like flat surface for both rest and relaxation.
The standard Economy seat in the 787-9 feature a slimline seat-back to enhance the feeling of space, sculpted upholstering and a more flexible headrest.

Luxon said the addition of the 787-9 to the Air New Zealand fleet means the airline will be able to offer a consistent product experience across its longhaul fleet and will see the Skycouch available on routes into Asia for the first time.