Inside Air New Zealand’s Revamped Dreamliner: ‘World-First’ Retrofit Unveiled

• Air New Zealand has unveiled its first retrofitted 787-9 Dreamliner in Auckland, New Zealand.
• Ticket on the initial flights will become available from Wednesday, 7 May, including the all-new Business Premier Luxe seats.
• The first retrofitted aircraft will take to the skies for the first time on Monday, 19 May, flying from Auckland to Brisbane return.

Award-winning airline Air New Zealand has unveiled a first look at its new 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Set to make its international debut on 19 May with an inaugural flight between Auckland and Brisbane, the ‘world-first’ retrofitted 787-9 Dreamliner ZK-NZH promises to deliver a “new era of travel” for domestic and international guests. Seats for the carrier’s new 787 experience will go on sale on Wednesday, 7 May, including access to the all-new Business Premier Luxe seats.

At a special launch event in Auckland on Tuesday, Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran officially confirmed the new Dreamliner, the first of 14 new crafts, had been approved for flight. Promising a “world-class onboard experience”, the CEO revealed that the aircraft had spent 184 days in Singapore being retrofitted; the culmination of years of extensive research, innovation, and design.

“This is the first ever full nose-to-tail retrofit of a 787-9 Dreamliner and marks the introduction of our first new onboard product in over 15 years. We’ve completely reimagined the experience of flying with Air New Zealand, incorporating elegant design elements, innovative Kiwi touches, and features informed by feedback from thousands of customers,” Foran said.

“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.”

While the updated offering launches with one new Dreamliner, Air New Zealand has confirmed that a second aircraft is currently under construction. A total of seven retrofitted Dreamliners are expected to be completed by the end of 2025, with all 14 aircraft to enter the fleet by the close of 2026.

Air New Zealand Dreamliner Flights

In addition to the maiden Brisbane journey on May 19, the upgraded Air New Zealand Dreamliner will make its long-haul debut later that evening, travelling from Auckland to San Francisco. This will ultimately serve as a key directive for the rest of the soon-to-be-introduced retrofitted aircraft, with Air New Zealand already outlining plans to fly predominantly between Auckland and Brisbane, San Francisco, Rarotonga, and Vancouver. Additional routes are also expected to come once the full fleet of retrofitted Dreamliners is complete.

Air New Zealand Cabin Experiences

Under the retrofit activity, Air New Zealand customers are set to score new on-board experiences and cabin formats, across four class tiers. The airline has confirmed that new seats in every cabin will be available, alongside an all-new in-flight entertainment system, larger in-flight entertainment screens, clever storage options, and additional privacy in the premium cabins. On the entertainment front, 4K HD screens with Bluetooth audio pairing now come as standard in all cabins, with passengers now able to use their phone as a remote to build a watchlist, track the flight, or multitask with Picture-in-Picture functionality.

Business Premier

The Business Premier class has undergone a complete overhaul in 2025, with the top-tier cabin class now boasting a new angle and layout. According to Air New Zealand, the revamp has maximised privacy and space through the use of sliding privacy screens and middle seats with a sliding divider that are specifically designed for travel companions.

Once you are ready to sleep, however, the newly-introduced lie-flat recline seat options provide a more ergonomic approach. Guests can also expect new wireless charging offerings and a 24″ in-flight entertainment screen as standard.

Business Premier Luxe

Taking the Premier cabin class one step further, the Business Premier Luxe offering provides a suite of beneficial, albeit marginal, updates that are designed to improve comfort and accessibility. The class tier comprises four all-new seats in the front row of the Business Premier cabin, which can be booked as a paid seat select product when purchasing a Business Premier seat. When selected, you can enjoy a full closing door, a larger bed, and additional space with room for two to dine.

Premium Economy

According to Air New Zealand, the Premium Economy cabin has also received a host of upgrades centred around privacy and storage. Under the retrofit project, passengers in this class now receive a seat that boasts a fixed outer shell, similar to the existing Business Class design. This ultimately means that you can recline completely without impacting the person behind you. Additionally, Premium Economy guests also enjoy side wings on the seat for extra privacy and additional storage space.

Economy

On the financially friendly side of the equation, the upgraded Economy class has also received a slight upgrade in design. The cabin class now boasts 50 per cent bigger inflight entertainment screens, revamped snack trays, and an increased Economy Stretch option that adds extra leg room.

The first Air New Zealand retrofitted 787-9 Dreamliner will launch on Monday, 19 May, flying from Auckland to Brisbane return. Seats, including the all-new Business Premier Luxe seats, are available for purchase from Wednesday, 7 May. For more information on the upgraded Air New Zealand Dreamliner offering, visit the airline’s website.