It’s an exciting time for Air New Zealand, as the Star Alliance carrier is in the process of retrofitting its entire Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet with new interiors. I want to provide an update on this project, as the first jet has now been reconfigured.
Continue reading: Air New Zealand Retrofitting Entire Boeing 787 Fleet With New Interiors
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Good to see new cabins being introduced across the industry. It's been a rough several years for everybody.
Are the bunks in economy still in the cards?
Fantastic news. I'm tempted to make a dry comment about Virgin needing to do likewise, but at this point they would be better just selling them and moving to an all-airbus fleet.
Thank God and past time. I love ANZ but I would never fly them long distance with those old bus seats with your feet in the aisle.
Air NZ should thank their lucky stars for the wealthy kiwi customers who fly with them by default and have tolerated their crappy biz hard product way past its expiry date. Their 777 fleet isn’t being updated, and since it’s expected to be in service until at least 2030; perhaps longer if the 787 replacements are slow off the line; it would be advisable to check which aircraft is serving which route prior to booking, and hope like hell you don’t get a last-minute swap.
Yes, as of the end of Feb this year NZ was saying the “Sky Nest” concept is still going ahead, and as far as I’m aware there’s been no announcement of a back-pedal. They’ve certainly tried some innovation in economy and premium economy over the years, which is more than one can say for almost any other carrier.
Emma Stanford on April 16, 2025 at 4:07pm for "Stuff"
"The much-anticipated Skynest, bunk beds in the sky, will not be on these aircraft, but instead be on the aircraft the airline has in order from Boeing, due to be delivered in early 2026."
Can anyone else confirm?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/360657820/first-air-new-zealands-retrofitted-dreamliners-returns-nz
They actually announced during their last shareholder presentation they will be refitting the 777 fleet starting 2026 (although they haven’t said if it will be the same product or something different).
I guess given the 787 manufacturing delays they see the fleet sticking around long term
I like the brisk timetable, hope they can meet it. Nothing is more disappointing than knowing the airline you fly has plans to update its cabins, but will take years to do it (or to even get started, hello American).
Pic of the new Premium Economy looks great.
I wonder whether they'll provide any protection for equipment swaps to a 777, the way QR does with Qsuites.
Ugh, well they changed their minds between Feb and April. What is this, Lufthansa?!
Five 787-9s have 275 seats, comprised of 27 business class seats, 23 premium economy seats, and 215 economy seats
This adds up to be 265 seats unless I'm missing something.
wow with just 26 business class seats, ( huge step up from 18) NZ will continue to be a budget airline, with the lowest # of Business class seats of almost any airline, flying 787-9s
the problem is, there is NO wealthy Kiwi customers, because there is almost NO Business class seats. Even as a budget carrier, this govt airline will have the fewest J seats of almost any carrier.
I feel great to see the new cabins Thanks to Air New Zealand. The best part for me is seeing them getting retrofitted in Singapore (SIN). The new Business Premier class, Premium Economy and Economy looks really nice. I would like to try it one day.
I think you have missed something.
Nine 787-9s have 302 seats, comprised of 18 business class seats, 21 premium economy seats, and 263 economy seats.