Air New Zealand has finalised an order for eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft.
The New Zealand flag carrier will integrate the largest Dreamliner model into its fleet of B787-9 and B777 aircraft from 2022 to “strategically grow its business”, Boeing said in a press release.
The deal, announced in May as a commitment and worth $2.7 billion at list prices, includes options to increase the number of aircraft from eight up to 20, and substitution rights that allow a switch from the larger B787-10 to smaller B787-9s, or a combination of the two models for future fleet and network flexibility.
“This is an exciting decision for our business and our customers as we deliver on our commitment to grow our business sustainably. With the B787-10 offering around 15 percent more space for both customers and cargo than the B787-9, this investment creates the platform for our future strategic direction and opens up new opportunities to grow,” said Air New Zealand chief executive officer Christopher Luxon.
The B787-10 is 224 feet long (68 meters) and can seat up to 330 passengers in a standard two-class configuration, about 40 more than the B787-9.
Air New Zealand was a global launch customer for the B787-9 and today operates 13 of the Dreamliner variant. With another B787-9 on the way and the B787-10 airplanes in the future, the airline’s Dreamliner fleet is on track to grow to 22. The new Dreamliner aircraft will replace Air New Zealand’s fleet of eight B777-200ERs. Air New Zealand’s widebody fleet also includes seven B777-300ERs.
