Air NZ has announced details of upgrades to its Boeing 777-300ER fleet, used for long haul flights to destinations in the US, Asia and Australia, with new layouts planned for business premier and economy cabins from May next year.
In the new setup, passengers travelling in economy will sit in new "ergonomically" designed seats, the airline said.
The seats will feature upgraded 33cm entertainment screens with Bluetooth connectivity and USB C connection, though legroom remains standard at 79-81cm pitch for economy and 89cm pitch for economy stretch.
Premium economy will remain unchanged, following a recent refresh of its seat covers and cabin curtains. However, two seats have been removed from its cabin to make space for the other upgrades, while two additional seats are added to standard economy, bringing the total capacity to 246 seats.
The biggest upgrades are to the business premier cabin, which will change to a "reverse herringbone format," said Air NZ Chief Customer and Digital Officer Jeremy O'Brien.
The business premier cabin will feature seats that convert to a lie-flat bed, with sliding doors for each, and privacy dividers for the centre rows.
The entertainment screens will upgrade to 45cm, with Bluetooth audio connectivity and both USB A and USB C connection.
O'Brien said the "time is right to raise the bar", since the fleet's first introduction in 2010. The changes also follow the airline's $35 million retrofitting of its 787-9 Dreamliners last year.
“Our Boeing 777-300ER aircraft continue to play a key role in our international network, and upgrading the interiors means we can keep these aircraft flying for longer, while reducing the maintenance demands that come with an older cabin product,” he said.
The first 777 is scheduled for retrofitting in March 2027, and the first in service is due by May 2027.
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