Air NZ launches new long-haul look

All Black Mils Muliaina contemplates the view from a Business Premier Class seat for one of the refitted Boeings. Picture / Paul Estcourt

After years of planning and three months in the hangar, the first of Air New Zealand's refitted Boeing 747-400s has been unveiled.

Chief executive Ralph Norris, who is leaving the airline on August 31, yesterday said the refit set a new benchmark for long-haul air travel.

The airline was expected to start reaping the financial benefits in the second half of next year, he said.

"With gearing at a historic low, cash reserves of $1.1 billion, strategies in place to lower operating costs and our new long-haul offering now a reality, Air NZ has never been better placed to face the challenges ahead such as fuel prices and intense competition."

Over the next few weeks the aircraft will fly between Auckland and Brisbane, Los Angeles and Japan. It will then be put to work exclusively on the Auckland-San Francisco route, which will be the first service on the Air NZ network to offer the refitted plane from August 7.

Every six weeks a new refitted plane will be put into the fleet, with the Auckland-Los Angeles-London route getting them from November 5.

By the end of next year, all 16 long-haul aircraft in the airline's fleet will have the new seats and entertainment - 8 Boeing 747-400s and 8 new Boeing 777-200ERs.

The new 777s will be the first to be fitted with the "herringbone" configuration of premium seats - a design licensed from Virgin Atlantic.

Air NZ says all are "future-proofed", with the digital, interactive inflight entertainment system easily able to be upgraded with new games, movies and entertainment.

Business Premier, Pacific Premium Economy and Pacific Economy replace the former first, business and economy classes.