Air New Zealand First to Take Delivery of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Air New Zealand became the first airline to take delivery of the Boeing 787-9 at an event attended by more than 1,000 Boeing employees, VIP guests and media from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, China and Japan to celebrate the handover of the aircraft.

The event took place on Wednesday at the Future of Flight museum near Seattle, USA.

American country music group The Band Perry made a surprise appearance and joined the celebrations.

Air New Zealand’s first 787-9 is in the airline’s distinctive black livery and will depart for Auckland, New Zealand, in around 36 hours after it has been displayed to international media and travel trade partners.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon says the delivery of the 787-9 is the start of an exciting new era for the airline.

This aircraft is the first of ten 787-9 Dreamliners to join Air New Zealand’s fleet. The aircraft will operate the Auckland – Perth route from 15 October 2014 and to Shanghai and Tokyo later this year.

Another of Air New Zealand’s 787-9s will be displayed by Boeing at the Farnborough International Airshow later this month.

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