Following their initial announcement in May, Air New Zealand has finalised their Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner order.
The contract will see Air New Zealand purchase eight 787-10 Dreamliners and have the rights for 20 options, in a deal worth an estimated $2.7 Billion. The deliveries will take place from 2022 to 2027.
“This is a hugely important decision for our airline. With the 787-10 offering around 15 percent more space for both customers and cargo than the 787-9, this investment creates the platform for our future strategic direction and opens up new opportunities to grow.”
Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon.
Unlike their 787-9 Dreamliner fleet, Air New Zealand has selected General Electric GEnx engines over the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000s to power their fleet of 787-10’s.
The initial expression of interest in May had the airline note that the decision to choose GE engines was not related to the ongoing problems with the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000s. Rather, Air New Zealand maintained the GEnx was a better fit for their operational plans.
“The 787-10 is longer and even more fuel-efficient. However, the game-changer for us has been that, by working closely with Boeing, we’ve ensured the 787-10 will meet our network needs including the ability to fly missions similar to our current 777-200 fleet.”
Currently, the Air New Zealand widebody fleet includes 13 Boeing 787-9’s and 16 Boeing 777’s (-200ER and -300ER) which will be progressively replaced by the 787’s.
For those interested in additional details, here is the original order post: