The first Boeing 787-9 has been handed over to launch customer, Air New Zealand in Seattle.
The aircraft, painted in a striking gloss black and silver fern scheme was handed over to the airline on June 30, and will remain in the Seattle area for crew training and familiarisation flights before a formal handover ceremony is held on July 9.
The 787-9 is 20 feet longer than the smaller 787-8, and offers seating for 38 more passengers and 800km more range in a typical configuration.
The airline will ease into 787 operations by conducting route proving and training flights until it formally enters service on the Auckland to Perth route on October 15.
