Air New Zealand is set to receive a fleet of the next-generation Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in late 2024. The third variant of the 787-9 — which Air New Zealand has dubbed 787-9 ‘Code 3’ — will boast 42 Business Premier Suits over two cabins, plus four exclusive Business Premier Luxe Suites to offer customers the best sleep in the sky. Premium Economy will also see a new cabin design with 52 seats, plus the world’s first lie-flat pods in economy class with the pioneering ‘Skynest’ sleeping bunks.
The airline’s new-look Dreamliner will be optimised for the ultra-long-haul US non-stop routes of New York, Houston and Chicago, with significantly fewer aircraft seats available overall and increased premium passenger capacity to maximise customer sleep, comfort and wellness.
The all-new Business Premier Suites will feature Safran Seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, with the first row of the Business Class cabin containing 4 Business Premier Luxe Suites — offering a large private suite with sliding partitions, a large ottoman seat, an oversized dining table for companion dining, and luxury soft products.
The Business Premier Suites will also feature sliding panels to provide greater levels of privacy and provide a self-activated lie-flat bed with a memory foam mattress and feather pillow, ample storage space, USB-A, USB-C and AC power outlets, a large 24-inch (61 centimetres) IFE screen, wireless charging and Bluetooth audio connectivity. The window seats angle slightly inwards, while the middle-paired seats are best for passengers travelling together.
The Business Class cabin will enjoy soft lighting and an interior design inspired by the native tūī bird. Passengers can enjoy a calming sleep ritual that will include sleepy teas and balms, meditative onscreen content, healthier food choices and breathable fabrics.
Air New Zealand’s non-stop Auckland to New York route is currently the fifth longest flight in the world at 17 hours 50 minutes and a distance of over 8,800 miles (14,200 kilometres).
Read the First-Class.com review of Air New Zealand Business Class
