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The first Boeing 787-9 for launch customer Air New Zealand has been rolled out of the paintshop at Boeing’s Everett factory in a stunning special all-black and silver fern livery.
The aircraft – which will be registered ZK-NZE – took five days to paint using 350 litres of paint, and will now enter a factory and customer pre-delivery ground and flight test phase before being delivered to the airline mid-year.
“It’s great to see the Koru and the beautiful New Zealand fern emblazoned on this aircraft,” Air NZ’s chief flight operations and safety officer, Captain David Morgan said. “This will soon be the first 787-9 aircraft anywhere in the world to operate commercially and I think it will instil a sense of pride in Kiwis and turn heads when it touches down at airports throughout Asia and the Pacific.”
Mark Jenks, Boeing’s vice president 787 Airplane Development added: “With the unveiling of this beautiful airplane and our continued progress in flight test, this is an exciting time for the entire 787-9 team. We look forward to delivering the first 787-9 to Air New Zealand.”
The 787-9 is more than three metres longer than the smaller 787-8, and is capable of carrying 40 more passengers in a typical layout. Air NZ has 10 787-9s on order, and its first commercial services will be seen on the Auckland to Perth route from October 15, and then to Tokyo and Shanghai from November.
Raymond
says:Very, very nice, that has to be one of the best looking, if not the best, commercial aircraft! Well done NZ (and I’m an Aussie). 🙂
Oh for some Qantas 787’s in stunning livery… 🙁
Aviation Fan
says:I think you’ll find if you do a bit more investigative journalism that this is not the 2nd plane to be in all black livery for Air NZ
australianaviation.com.au
says:Or, perhaps you could just tell what you know? It’s hardly worthy of “investigative journalism” is it?
Cheers
Andrew
Raymond
says:He’s probably referring to the Beech 1900D… 🙂
http://australianaviation.com.au/2012/01/air-new-zealands-all-black-get-together/
Raymond
says:And A320’s…
Raymond
says:… making this 787-9 their seventh?
australianaviation.com.au
says:Maybe I should have clarified, the second ‘wide-body’! Have now amended the caption.
Cheers
Andrew
George
says:Hi Andrew – 777- 300 for the Rugby World I think.
DB
says:They did an ATR in all black as well I believe
beech kid
says:they have a few black b1900’s, perhaps thats what aviation fan is talking about
Geocan
says:After a few minutes research, the following Air New Zealand aeroplanes were found to be painted in the “All Black” scheme:
ZK-OKQ Boeing 777
ZK-OAB Airbus A320
ZK-OJR Airbus A320
ZK-EAG Beech 1900D
ZK-EAK Beech 1900D
ZK-MVA ATR-72
Unfortunately the A320, 1900D and ATR-72 are only used domestically in NZ.
Cheers,
George (not the one above)
Dennis
says:Very nice looking aircraft.
I wonder how difficult it is to spot a scratch on the black paint?
Dermott
says:Yes they have a number of All Black aircraft (flew in an A320 last night) but the caption says “The 787-9 is only the second Air NZ wide-bodied aircraft to wear the stunning all-black livery”.
They only have 1 (One) wide-bodied All Black aircraft currently so I think the article is correct. Very picky to complain, lets enjoy how great it looks
Chris
says:They are correct in saying that it is only the 2nd WIDE body aircraft in the fleet to don the black paint scheme as the A320’s are regarded as NARROW body.
Reverend
says:i hope airNz also buys boeing 777-8x 777-9x to replace the boeing 777 200 and 300 in time
Mal
says:Dermott, good call. Enjoy the aircraft. What a great looking aircraft for the first 787-9. And it’s on our region. Brilliant!
Marc
says:Just highlight’s how bad Qantas in run in areas of PR, fleet, marketing, and general management.
David
says:If only QANTAS got them instead of A330’s. Also instead of Jetstar or at the sametime 🙁
australianaviation.com.au
says:Let’s not turn this into a Qantas bashing exercise please folks.
Cheers
Andrew
Dane
says:Is it just me, or does the bottom photo look like it’s black and white?
australianaviation.com.au
says:It is black & white – was done on purpose.
Cheers
Andrew
Peter Singh
says:Guys the black plane really looks great in flight. Air New Zealand also has some A320 in half black and white. Especially the new planes with sharklets.
JBAlberts
says:I’ll be ground controllers around the world will have a good time spotting this aircraft at night!
Greg
says:Go AIR NZ – can only get better for these guys – they are winning all round at present.
Glen
says:This is a stunning aircraft its great to see on twitter how much interest this aircraft attracted . I can wait to see it here in NZ and better still landing at Wellington airport . Maybe Air NZ could use the 787 for more international flights from Wellington if the runway is long enough . QANTAS do have some great liverys its just all of other problems they have seems to over shadow the good things they do.
Reverend
says:i would like to ee Qantas buy boeing 787-9 and boeing 777-9x to replace the a330 a380. I hope airNA buys the next gen 777-8x and 777-9x to replace current 777
Paul Douglas
says:Another Black Beauty… Callsign ‘Blackbird’ 8)
peter
says:the brain trust behind that airline never cease to amaze me,they may not be the biggest in the world but they have got to be one of the best,great purchase,great paint scheme,great looking plane,and great to fly with can’t wait to see this land in Perth