Air New Zealand’s engineering facility is overflowing with new aircraft after taking delivery of two factory fresh airframes from Boeing in the past three days.
The first, Boeing 777-300ER ZK-OKS, arrived at 0458 local time at Auckland Airport on Saturday, September 27th.
It was the seventh and final 777-300ER to enter the Air NZ fleet as part of the airline’s current order book.
Two days later, on September 29, the carrier’s second Boeing 787-9 registration ZK-NZF touched down at 0811 at Auckland Airport after the 13-hour, 14-minute journey from Boeing’s Everett facility in Washington State.
The 777-300ERs are used mainly on long-haul routes to North America. Its introduction into service has led to the retirement of Air NZ’s Boeing 747-400 fleet, with the last aircraft, ZK-NBV operating its last flight on September 12.
The Kiwi flag carrier has 10 787-9s on order, with one already in service flying daily between Auckland and Perth.
Air NZ was due to start 787-9 services to Tokyo Narita on December 2, with 787 flights to Shanghai due to commence 12 days later on December 14, according to global distribution systems.
The launch dates were subject to delivery of the Air NZ’s second 787.
