Air New Zealand has announced that its freshly refitted 787-9 is ready to renter service from Monday 19 May.

The project represents the first nose-to-tail refit of an aircraft of this type, and incorporates a number of new design elements in the cabin.

The airline’s second 787-9 is up in Singapore undergoing its retrofit, with a total of seven aircraft expected to be completed by the end of the year. All 14 Boeing 787-9s in Air New Zealand’s fleet will be updated to the new cabin layout by the end of 2026. Customers can expect an elevated experience throughout the aircraft, with new seats in every cabin, an all-new inflight entertainment system, larger inflight entertainment screens, clever stowage options, and additional privacy in the premium cabins.

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“This aircraft spent 184 days in Singapore being retrofitted, the result of several years of extensive research, innovation, and design by our team to deliver a world-class onboard experience” explained Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran.

“As the national carrier, it’s an immense privilege to showcase the best of New Zealand, and this is woven into every detail of our cabin design – from the textures you touch to the spaces you relax in, every element is a nod to our home, Aotearoa.”

The aircraft has been configured for Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class. Within Business Class, there is an option of ‘Business Premier’,  which features sliding privacy screens, wireless charging, and a 24″ inflight entertainment screen, while Business Premier Luxe features a full closing door, a larger bed, and additional space with room for two to dine.

All seats in Premium Economy have a fixed outer shell, meaning your recline doesn’t impact the person behind you. while side wings on the seat provide extra privacy. Standard economy seats now feature larger 4k screens with Bluetooth audio pairing, plus more storage for the passenger’s passport, phone etc.