Overview
- Air New Zealand announced on July 15 that it will refit seven Boeing 777-300ERs, with work due to begin in March 2027, the first aircraft returning to service by May 2027 and the programme targeted to finish by December 2027.
- Business Premier will adopt Collins Aerospace Elevation reverse-herringbone seats with full privacy doors, 43-inch pitch that convert to lie-flat beds, 18-inch IFE screens with Bluetooth, and USB‑A and USB‑C ports.
- The overall seat count stays at 342 by trimming two Premium Economy seats to 52 and adding two Economy seats to reach 246, including 16 Skycouch rows and Economy Stretch rows with 35-inch pitch.
- Economy will receive new ergonomically designed ZIM seats plus upgraded 13-inch Astrova or Panasonic IFE screens with Bluetooth audio and USB‑C power, while Premium Economy remains as recently refreshed.
- Air New Zealand frames the work as a passenger-experience upgrade and a life-extension move to reduce the maintenance burden on aging 777 cabins, though the airline warns target dates are typical schedules that can slip.