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Air New Zealand has initiated a significant refurbishment of its Boeing 787-9 fleet, marking a first in the aviation industry. The initial aircraft, identified by registration code ZK-NZH, arrived in Singapore to undergo extensive interior upgrades at ST Engineering, the airline's maintenance partner.
The refurbishment will involve stripping the existing interiors and installing new features such as revamped seats across all classes and redesigned Business Premier cabins with the introduction of Business Premier Luxe. Baden Smith, Air New Zealand's General Manager of Strategy, Networks and Fleet, highlighted this project as a key milestone: "In 2014, Air New Zealand was the launch customer for the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. A decade on, it feels fitting that we're the first airline in the world to retrofit these aircraft nose-to-tail with a new interior."
Smith explained that each aircraft would return to New Zealand for final checks before entering service next year. Over two years, all 14 aircraft will be retrofitted sequentially to maintain flight schedules without disrupting travel plans. "Once the first aircraft has been retrofitted and certified, the remaining aircraft will head to Singapore one by one," Smith stated.
