Dreamliner Belonging to Air New Zealand Undergoes First Enhancement and Commences First Flight
2025-05-22 Aviation Newsflash 🛬️✈️
Hey there! Today we're talking about Air New Zealand's spankin' new, retrofitted Dreamliner that's set to redefine your in-flight experience.
After a sweaty seven-year labor, the revamped 787-9, fondly known as ZK-NZH, kicked off commercial service on the 19th of May from Auckland to Brisbane. It then made a quick pitstop in Auckland before jetting off to San Francisco that very evening. It's now a mainstay on the Auckland-Brisbane, Auckland-San Francisco, and Auckland-Vancouver routes!
The high-tech, reimagined interior boasts the lavish Business Premier Luxe seat, refreshed cabins in Business Premier, Premium Economy, and Economy classes, and a whole bunch of upgraded nitty-gritty enticing details.
But what, in the spirit of fairness, is a retrofit? It's essentially facelifting an aircraft—revamping the guts inside—just like you would an old home. 🏠
Air New Zealand's refresh-o-rama includes:
- Fresh Business Premier Luxe seats with a regal air in the Business Premier class
- Oozing new carpet underfoot throughout the aircraft
- New curtains hanging between cabins and kitchenettes
- A plush new wallpaper, hands-free waste disposal, and improved amenity holders in the loos
- Swanky new in-flight entertainment screens and systems
- Goodies like the Sky Pantry installed in the Economy class
Eventually, all 14 spruced planes will be swankified to accommodate 272 seats, with 4 Business Premier Luxe seats, 22 Business Premier seats, 33 Premium Economy seats, and 213 Economy seats—13 of which come equipped with the acclaimed Economy SkycouchTM. If you ain't tried it yet, buckle up, friend! Here's our Skycouch review.
If you're an aviation geek, you'll be pleased to hear that while retrofitting older planes is common, it's not a one-size-fits-all deal. Each modification is thoughtfully examined to make sure it doesn't compromise the aircraft's performance or safety standards.
Sources:
[1] Retrofitting Aircraft
[2] Aircraft Modifications and Retrofitting
[3] Aircraft Avionics Retrofit Market
[4] Aircraft Retrofit and Upgrade
[5] Aircraft Retrofitting Challenges
In the ever-evolving aviation industry, the finance sector has played a significant role in Air New Zealand's recent endeavor to modernize its fleet. The retrofitted Dreamliner, now servicing various transportation routes, is a testament to the impact of these transformative investment decisions. This innovative step is not unique to Air New Zealand, as aircraft modifications and retrofitting are common practices within the industry, aiming to enhance the overall passenger experience and align with industry standards.
