Air New Zealand has announced Auckland-Perth will be the first scheduled route ever operated by the revolutionary new Boeing 787-9 when the airline takes delivery of the launch aircraft next year.
The 787-9 is larger and flies further than the standard 787.
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon said that the “787-9 is going to be a game changer for Air New Zealand and sets a new benchmark for passenger comfort.”
The Air New Zealand 787s will offer passengers 18 seat lie-flat Business Premier beds and a separate 21 seat Premium Economy cabin in a 2-3-2 configuration, each with its own dedicated bathroom facilities.
The planes two economy cabins will accommodate 263 passengers, including 14 Skycouch rows which are a set of three seats that covert to a bed.
Virgin Australia will code-share on the service and passengers can book the new flight from 15 October 2014.
Air New Zealand is the launch customer for the Boeing 787-9 which carries around 40 more passengers than the standard model.
Mr Luxon made the announcement at the official opening of the airline’s Customer Innovation and Collaboration Centre in Auckland A feature of the centre is the only Boeing 787-9 full cabin interior outside the factory in Seattle.
“Our new Customer Innovation and Collaboration Centre will give us a venue to showcase the on board experience before the world’s first 787-9 to enter commercial service joins our fleet in the middle of next year. We’ll have a busy programme of hosting customers, trade partners and stakeholders at the centre over the coming months. We are confident they will be as excited as we are about the future of air travel.”
Mr Luxon says the Customer Innovation and Collaboration Centre will also be the hub for further innovation from Air New Zealand.
“We are determined to deliver step changes in customer experience and to work with our trade partners to crack business issues and seize opportunities together. This centre provides a focal point to bring to life the best of Kiwi ingenuity and we are going to make it available as a venue for other like-minded Kiwi businesses to use.”
To see more click: Air New Zealand 787-9
