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.
In this post:
Air New Zealand updating all 787 cabins by late 2026
In 2022, Air New Zealand announced plans to introduce an all-new business class product on its Boeing 787 fleet, in addition to updated premium economy and economy seats.
Initially, this was supposed to debut on newly delivered Boeing 787s, with plans to then later retrofit existing jets. However, due to delivery delays, that hasn’t worked out as planned. Instead, Air New Zealand’s new cabins are now debuting on existing jets.
Air New Zealand’s first 787 has just returned from Singapore, after spending six months there being reconfigured. It’s normal for the first jet to take a lot longer than others, since there are often kinks to work out, and certification can also take some time.
Specifically, the 787 with the registration code ZK-NZH has just returned to Auckland, and is expected to enter commercial service as of May 2025. Meanwhile a second 787, with the registration code ZK-NZI, has already arrived in Singapore, to undergo a refresh.
The plan is for all 14 787s to be reconfigured by the end of 2026, and for half of those to already be reconfigured by the end of 2025. So it’s a pretty aggressive retrofit schedule.
Interestingly, Air New Zealand claims to be the first airline in the world to retrofit a 787-9 nose-to-tail. This makeover includes:
- New seats in every cabin, including the new Business Premier Luxe seats in the Business Premier cabin
- New carpet throughout the aircraft
- New curtains between cabins and galleys
- New wallpaper, hands-free waste disposal, and amenity holders in the lavatories
- New inflight entertainment screens and system
- Sky Pantry installed in the Economy cabin
Here’s how Air New Zealand’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jeremy O’Brien, describes this project:
“Seeing the first of our 14 Dreamliners to undergo this transformation arrive home is a huge moment for our people, our customers, and the future of Air New Zealand. We’re so proud to deliver this new experience for those who fly with us around the world.”
“Now the aircraft is back on home soil, it will undergo final preparations including testing of its new inflight entertainment system, and a full crew ground trial to rehearse onboard service before welcoming customers on board for the first time in mid-May.”
Air New Zealand planning standardized 275-seat layout
When Air New Zealand retrofits its Boeing 787-9s, the airline will introduce a single, standardized layout. Currently the airline has two Dreamliner layouts:
- Nine 787-9s have 302 seats, comprised of 18 business class seats, 21 premium economy seats, and 263 economy seats
- Five 787-9s have 275 seats, comprised of 27 business class seats, 23 premium economy seats, and 215 economy seats
Once these cabins are updated, Air New Zealand will have a standardized layout among retrofitted 787s, as all 787-9s will have 272 seats. This will include 26 business class seats (four Business Premier Luxe seats and 22 Business Premier seats), 33 premium economy seats, and 213 economy seats.
As you can see, the biggest change in terms of capacity is that premium economy is growing quite a bit compared to both of the existing configurations. Meanwhile business class capacity is also growing considerably compared to a majority of the jets.
Note that Air New Zealand will have a more premium layout on some newly delivered 787s, but all the retrofitted ones will have the same configuration. Having a standardized layout will be useful in terms of fleet planning. Furthermore, the lower capacity of the jet will be valuable in terms of being able to operate ultra long haul flights.
Bottom line
Air New Zealand has started the process of reconfiguring its Boeing 787 fleet. The first 787 has just returned to New Zealand, after spending around six months in Singapore undergoing a nose-to-tail retrofit project. The plane is expected to enter service in May 2025.
By the end of 2025, we should see half of Air New Zealand’s Dreamliner fleet with new cabins, and by the end of 2026, we should see Air New Zealand’s entire Dreamliner fleet with new cabins. The planes will even be configured in a standard layout, with new seats across cabins. While Air New Zealand’s new business class is hardly the most exciting product on the horizon, I’m still happy to see this fleet get some updates, as this is long overdue.
What do you make of Air Zealand retrofitting its Boeing 787 fleet?
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.
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
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.
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.
Still a crap airline
I wonder whether they'll provide any protection for equipment swaps to a 777, the way QR does with Qsuites.
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.
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,...
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.
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 thought most of the international flying in NZ originates abroad ?
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.
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.
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.
Only about 10 years too late
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?
I was curios about that as well!
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
Ugh, well they changed their minds between Feb and April. What is this, Lufthansa?!