Air New Zealand has been forced to delay the introduction of its all-new business class offering following supply chain delays that are impacting the delivery of key components. The Auckland-based carrier had hoped to introduce the new product on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet in September 2024, but the roll-out is being pushed back until “early in the new year,” according to the carrier.
Speaking to Executive Traveller, the carrier’s Head of Fleet Strategy and Delivery, Baden Smith, said that the refit program was “running slightly later than originally planned due to global supply chain challenges for parts. The first of our 787-9 aircraft will head off to Singapore for its retrofit in mid-October”.
“We’re excited to get this program underway and will be working through various checks and training with the team to have it flying early in the new year,” he added.
Further to the announcement of the latest delay to the roll-out, the company also now appears to be stepping back from the previous announcement that its new Business Premier Suites product would first feature on the carrier’s Auckland to New York-JFK route. The upgraded business class product could now appear on any of the airline’s routes currently operated by its 787 fleet, a spokesperson for Air New Zealand told Executive Traveler.
The original plan had been for this product to feature on the airline’s longest 787-9 Dreamliner routes from Auckland to Chicago and New York. However, with the delivery of the first of a new batch of these aircraft delayed until late 2025, the product may appear on the retrofitted older 787s already in the company’s fleet.
The first 787-9s to be retrofitted in Singapore were originally due to enter service in September 2024. Not only were these due to receive the new business class product, but also mark the introduction of the carrier’s long-awaited and much heralded ‘Skynest’ economy bunk beds capsule.
The Skynest experience consists of a capsule situated between the premium economy and economy cabins that will feature six sleeping pods in a triple bunk on either side configuration. They will allow economy passengers to book a full-length lie-flat bed for four hours at a time.
Each pod will include personal ventilation, a reading light, full bedding with a full-size pillow, ear plugs, a USB port, and special lighting designed for rest. The Skynest experience will be bookable for a single four-hour session for a fee expected to be around US$244-US$370.
Once refitted, the retrofitted 787-9s will feature a cabin specifically designed for the carrier’s ultra-long-haul routes. They will feature 42 Business Premier seats spread across two cabins, with the first row of each two cabins comprising four Business Premier Luxe suites, in addition to the Skynest product and a redesigned premium economy cabin.
Air New Zealand said in July 2024 that it would continue to invest in its Dreamliner fleet, with its current fleet of 14 aircraft getting nose-to-tail upgrades, while the carrier has a further eight Dreamliners on order from Boeing (six 787-10s and two further 787-9s).
Over the past 10 years, the carrier has carried more than 11 million customers on 59,000 787 Dreamliner flights, accumulating over 475,000 flying hours. The airline currently operates 14 787-9s which accommodate 302 passengers in a three-class configuration.