In June 2022, Air New Zealand formally revealed the details of its new business class product, after teasing it for a couple of years. Air New Zealand is actually refreshing all of its cabins on the Boeing 787 (including introducing the innovative Skynest), but in this post I’ll be focusing specifically on business class.
I wanted to take an updated look at what we can expect from this product, especially since the airline has just started the process of retrofitting its Boeing 787s, so we now have a better sense of the timeline for everything.
In this post:
Air New Zealand’s new Business Premier seats
In early 2025, Air New Zealand will be introducing new Business Premier seats. Boeing 787s will feature either 42 or 22 of these seats, depending on the configuration.
There are different configurations depending on demand in various markets — the 14 retrofitted jets will feature 22 seats, while the new 787s that the airline takes delivery of will feature 26 seats.
Here are some of the basic features to be aware of:
- Seats will be in a 1-2-1 configuration, and will be herringbone, meaning that all seats face toward the aisles, rather than away from them; they’ll be at a 24 degree angle to the aircraft fuselage
- Seats will be 20.5″ wide, and will turn into 80.25″ flat beds
- Seats will have 24″ personal televisions, USB-A, USB-C, and AC power outlets, and bluetooth audio
- Business Premier seats won’t have doors, but they will have a shield that can be extended to provide some extra privacy
Air New Zealand’s new Business Premier Luxe seats
Air New Zealand isn’t just introducing a new Business Premier product, but the airline is also adding a new Business Premier Luxe seat. Think of it as a premium business class. Boeing 787s will feature either four or eight of these seats, depending on the configuration (since these are at bulkheads, it comes down to whether there’s one or two business class cabins).
These will feature more space, an ottoman, and a privacy door. The tray table will be larger, and it will be possible to dine with another passenger at these seats.
Essentially Air New Zealand is just creatively utilizing the space at the bulkhead. The other business class seats use some of the space to the side of the seat in front to maximize efficiency, but of course there’s no seat in front of the bulkhead row.
So Air New Zealand is giving those passengers extra space, and is marketing it as a separate product. Think of it as being along the lines of the JetBlue Mint Studio on the A321LR, the Virgin Atlantic Retreat Suite on the A330-900neo, the Condor Prime Seats on the A330-900neo, etc.
There’s no indication yet of how pricing will work for this. Will there be a special fare class for these seats, or will there just be a consistent upcharge to select Business Premier Luxe, regardless of how you book your ticket?
When will Air New Zealand install its new business class?
Air New Zealand is expected to introduce its first Boeing 787 with new cabins as of early 2025. Air New Zealand is just starting the process of retrofitting its existing fleet of 14 Dreamliners, and those planes will all feature these new cabins. The plan is for all 14 jets to be reconfigured within two years, so by late 2026.
Air New Zealand is also supposed to take delivery of a new batch of Boeing 787s with updated cabins. However, these have now been delayed until at least 2026. So it’s entirely possible that Air New Zealand reconfigures its entire 787 fleet prior to taking delivery of a single new 787. Note that Air New Zealand won’t install this product on Boeing 777s.
The wait here sure has been long, especially when you consider that the airline was already teasing this product before the pandemic.
My take on Air New Zealand’s new business class
Air New Zealand desperately needs a new business class product. Currently the airline has a standard herringbone product in business class, in a 1-1-1 configuration, which was first introduced back in 2005. This was an exciting product 15+ years ago, but at this point is outdated.
I’ve gotta be honest, I’m confused by the new Business Premier product, and am wondering what I’m missing:
- Reverse herringbone seats are considered more desirable than herringbone seats, given that they feature more privacy and have views out the window, so I have to wonder why Air New Zealand would choose to maintain a herringbone configuration
- It’s odd to see Air New Zealand not introducing doors on a new business class product introduced now, when that’s the direction the industry is headed
- There are several “generic” seats out there that on the surface seem superior to this, like the Adient Ascent seat (which Qatar Airways’ new Boeing 787-9s have)
Among the new business class products in development, this is probably the product that looks least impressive to me.
In fairness to Air New Zealand, the seat does look reasonably spacious in terms of the size of the footwell and the space around the seat, so that’s good. It’s also nice to see Air New Zealand increase premium seat capacity on many planes. Previously Air New Zealand’s planes had up to 27 business class seats, while now we’ll see some 787s with up to 50 business class seats, between Business Premier and Business Premier Luxe.
Business Premier Luxe looks great, and it looks like a significant step up over your average business class product, and also like a significant improvement over Business Premier. The big question is what pricing will be like.
Bottom line
Air New Zealand should be introducing its new business class product as of early 2025, and it will represent a significant improvement over what’s currently being offered. The airline is introducing a new Business Premier, which I’d say looks reasonably good, but not cutting edge. Meanwhile Business Premier Luxe is the biggest change, as these seats will have doors and ottomans.
We can expect the first retrofitted 787 with this new product to enter service in early 2025, while the first newly delivered 787 with this product will be delivered in 2026.
What do you make of Air New Zealand’s new business class?
It will look so great when Air New Zealand gets all of them done.
Does anybody know if the new seats will allow Customers to lie their seat flat by themselves or will the Crew still have to do it for you. I am a big girl now :)
hmm..... would have been nice 10 years ago, not so much now.
Still, a big improvement on the current ridiculous J seats hated by almost everyone. Hope the clueless person who signed off on that concept is gone.
No real privacy and once again they love their seats facing away from the window - maybe scared of the very high UV exposure in the Southern hemisphere
The skynest in the video looks great. At 240-360 USD for 4 hours it seems like a good price to pay if you can manage to sleep for that time in full.
Keeping regular herringbone has gone to be one of the most mystifying and aggravating decisions by an airline otherwise considered one of the world's best.
Having worked at NZ I am sure the herringbone was the cheaper option! The current product is woefully in terms of privacy and view. Seeing everyone's feet pointing in the aisles is dreadful.
I wish they'd have selected better. I like them. In my prior-J days, they were the best choice US to ADL or PER. If you connect in BNE/MEL/SYD, you go through customs there (point of entry) before your domestic connection. Randomly chosen for the long customs line? Unnecessary pressure. If you connect in AKL, customs is at the end in ADL or PER
WARNING! Years ago, I did not need a visa/ETA to transit in AKL. You may now (website isn't clear). So, another dumb move between the country and airline.
What a joke… why in this and age are WINDOW SEATS… faced away from the window?
I’ll be interested to see how this work ergonomically. I think the layout looks pretty good but I’m struck by how low the seat backs appear. I can’t imagine a seat that doesn’t even appear to support the head properly would be comfortable at all.
Air NZ is content being a decade behind their competition. Lucky for them NZ is a captive market of high $$ travelers.
Except AA, DL, QF, and UA all fly better J from the US to NZ. And it looks like I'll continue to seek non-NZ flights into the future. Sad they
won't give us even low-end, state-of-the-art J in a new plane/upgrsde and think one-of-a-kind features outside of J are they way to go.
Nice warm look. Wake up Delta
Gonna have to agree with Ben. Nothing exciting about this sear, and I’m not even a doors fan. It all looks too similar to what was all the rage circa 2008
I feel like Air NZ isn't even trying at this point. There was a time when it was seen as a premium airline, but it seems to be having an identity crisis and lacking any ambition.
I’m actually glad there is no door. Seats are probably private enough, and enclosed suites can be too claustrophobic. Just like Lufthansa first class, the shield is enough, you can’t see anyone else really.
You’re on a plane, privacy doesn’t really matter that much. It’s nice, but not a dealbreaker
Or, here's this crazy idea: if you don't like doors, don't shut yours, and I can make my choice (close it).
A wing or shield akin to CXs current herringbone products would be nice tradeoff for a door. I mean everybody is basically in a tube going to the same place, so there's not much privacy to be had!
"Boeing 787s will feature either 42 or 22 of these seats, depending on the configuration."
I think it's 22 or 26. It's odd that there's discussion of how they'll go from two cabins to one configuration, except that's just the retrofits. Since the new deliveries will be a different configuration the fleet will still be two different configurations.
Can't wait for your review of it when it's flying!
@ Tom -- The reconfigured jets will have 26 total business class seats (22 Business Premier and four Business Premier Luxe), while the new jets that Air New Zealand takes delivery of will have 50 total business class seats (42 Business Premier and eight Business Premier Luxe).
Got it, thanks!