Air New Zealand has confirmed its new fleet of 10 Boeing 787-9 aircraft will fly to key long-haul destinations Shanghai and Tokyo.
It will also service mid-haul destinations, including Perth, Honolulu and Papeete.
Air New Zealand is the launch customer for the 787-9, the first of which is due to roll off the production line at Boeing in Seattle next month.
CEO Christopher Luxon says the 787-9, which will replace AirNZ’s current fleet of Boeing 767s, is a "game changer" for the airline.
"Given our 787-9s will be multiple purpose aircraft – operating both long and mid haul sectors – we’ve put a lot of research effort into coming up with four distinct seating selections that meet the customer expectations across the markets it will serve," Luxon said.
These include the Business Premier cabin featuring Air New Zealand’s signature leather armchair that converts to a lay-flat bed with memory foam mattress.
The Premium Economy cabin will have leather seats with a 41-inch pitch, 5-inch wide armrest and extendable foot support.
The Economy cabin will have 16 rows of Air New Zealand’s unique Kiwi-designed Skycouch seats. This is a row of three seats that converts into a sofa-like flat surface.
The Skycouch will be available on routes into Asia for the first time.
