Air New Zealand has commenced a groundbreaking retrofit program for its Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner fleet, with the first of 14 aircraft arriving in Singapore for a full interior overhaul. This marks the world’s first nose-to-tail cabin retrofit of a Boeing B787-9, a move aimed at enhancing passenger experience and ensuring the fleet remains at the forefront of aviation comfort.
The aircraft, registered as ZK-NZH, is undergoing the transformation at ST Engineering, Air New Zealand’s long-term maintenance partner. The refurbishment involves stripping the aircraft’s current interior and installing new cabin features, including revamped Economy and Premium Economy seats, and a redesigned Business Premier cabin. A key highlight of the retrofit is the introduction of the airline’s new Business Premier Luxe™ product, offering premium customers an elevated experience.
Baden Smith, Air New Zealand’s General Manager of Strategy, Networks, and Fleet, highlighted the significance of the project. “We’re retrofitting them one at a time to ensure we have enough aircraft to fly our schedule, and we aren’t disrupting customers’ travel plans. Rolling out this retrofit program before we get our new aircraft also puts us in a good place to continue delivering an exceptional flying experience for our customers,” said Smith.
The first retrofitted aircraft is expected to return to New Zealand in early 2025, where it will undergo final checks and crew training before re-entering service. The airline plans to retrofit its B787-9 fleet over the next two years, ensuring that each aircraft is upgraded without disrupting scheduled flights.
ST Engineering’s Executive Vice President and Head of Aerospace MRO, Mr. Tan Eng Shu, expressed excitement about the partnership. “We are excited to welcome the first of the 14 Boeing 787-9 aircraft to our Singapore facilities for the much-anticipated major refresh of Air New Zealand’s Dreamliner fleet. Being a long-standing MRO partner to Air New Zealand, we are able to support their Dreamliner fleet’s lifecycle requirements, from maintenance work to now what would be the world’s first full cabin retrofit on a Boeing 787-9. We appreciate the opportunity and look forward to enhancing our partnership and being part of the new Dreamliner experience with Air New Zealand,” said Tan.
The extensive retrofit includes new seats in every cabin, upgraded inflight entertainment systems, and aesthetic improvements, such as new carpets, curtains, and lavatory fixtures. Once completed, each aircraft will feature 272 seats, including 4 Business Premier Luxe™ seats, 22 Business Premier seats, 33 Premium Economy seats, and 213 Economy seats, including the popular Economy Skycouch™.
This retrofit project solidifies Air New Zealand’s commitment to offering a superior travel experience, reinforcing its position as a leader in aviation innovation.