Air NZ's $100m fleet upgrade
Partially-listed national carrier Air New Zealand is spending more than $100 million upgrading eight Boeing 777-200 aircraft.
Deputy ceo Norm Thompson says the upgrade includes the introduction of lie-flat Skycouches, the complete replacement of premium economy and economy seats, and upgraded business premier seats, to match those on the 777-300.
There will also be an improved in-flight entertainment system, with touch monitors and improved resolution.
The 304-seat aircraft entered service in 2005 and fly various international routes.
The upgrade will begin in 2014 and take a year.
Air New Zealand shares (NZX: AIR) are down half a cent at midday today, at $1.14, having gained almost 27% this year.
The company is 73% state owned and a further float is being considered under the government's mixed ownership model.
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Comments and questions7
Awesome! Now we can be as uncomfortable on the -200 as we are on the -300. Keep collecting those bonuses Norm.
Perhaps a disgruntled employee I assume?
Why the heck dosn't Key rid us of this turkey and make the airline stand and compete without taxpayer support. Sky couches are a total fail and only suitable for hobbits.
10 abreast on the 777-200 in economy instead of 9 abreast now.
18 months before the first plane gets taken out of service for the upgrade, so don't hold your breath.
Good in Business Premier, a big leap forward in Premium Economy (wouldn't be hard since it's always been awful value on these planes - which currently have the same seats as economy with more legroom), nice to have Skycouch, but awful to have another seat squeezed into the rows - tighter than Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific or British Airways.
Not an upgrade for economy.
New premium economy has poorer seat recline and less legroom for one leg. I prefer the old premium economy seat.
No mention of the change in the livery on the planes to the plainest (if you will forgive the pun) in the industry. A stark while plane with a black tail. After the hype of the all black planes last year what a let down.
Agree. Can't believe AirNZ are going to adopt such a boring livery. This Kiwi obsession with all things black is ridiculous. The blue-green of the current livery is great. Update the font and perhaps the ribbons/bands on the fuselage but leave the colours and esp. the tail. AirNZ are going cold and unfriendly in their exteriors and interiors. The white of the new 777s is crazy - seen how messy it looks when it gets dirty? And yes, the new seats are appreciably worse for tall people. Fail from Altitude on that.