Air New Zealand has confirmed the destinations its new fleet of 10 Boeing 787-9 aircraft will initially fly to as Shanghai and Tokyo, while it will also service some mid-haul destinations such as Perth, Honolulu and Papeete.
Air New Zealand is the launch customer for the 787-9, the first of which is due to roll off the production line next month.
Announcing the services, Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon said: “This modern flexible fuel-efficient aircraft will not only replace our current fleet of Boeing 767s, it also represents a significant growth opportunity for our business and opens up the prospect of expanding our Pacific Rim footprint.
“Given our 787-9’s will be multiple-purpose aircraft – operating bothlong and mid-haul sectors – we’ve put a lot of research effort into coming up with four distinct seating selections that meet the customer expectations across the markets it will serve.”
- The Business Premier cabin will feature Air New Zealand’s signature chalk-coloured luxurious leather armchair that converts to a lie-flat bed complete with memory foam mattress, duvet and two full-size pillows.
- In the Premium Economy cabin, the airline has worked with US seat designer Zodiac on a customised seat best described as ‘Business-lite’. The leather seat will have a 41” pitch, a generous 5” wide armrest and a leg rest and extendable foot support which will allow passengers to really stretch out and relax.
- The Economy cabin will feature 16 rows of Air New Zealand’s unique and highly popular Kiwi-designed Skycouch seats. This is a row of three seats that converts into a sofa-like flat surface for both rest and relaxation.
- The standard Economy seat in the 787-9 feature a slimline seat-back to enhance the feeling of space, sculpted upholstering and a more flexible headrest.
Luxon said the addition of the 787-9 to the Air New Zealand fleet means the airline will be able to offer a consistent product experience across its longhaul fleet and will see the Skycouch available on routes into Asia for the first time.
