Air New Zealand brings forward Boeing 787-9 Auckland-Perth inaugural

By David Flynn, September 8 2014

Air New Zealand's inaugural Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flight from Auckland to Perth will run this Friday 12 September.

The Dreamliner's debut on the Auckland-Perth route comes a month ahead of the previously-scheduled 15 October date, and will make the eight hour flight as NZ175, departing Auckland at 2.20pm to reach Perth at 6.10pm.

The jet will then turn around and head back to Auckland as NZ176, with wheels-up time from Perth at 9.15pm.

A spokesperson for Air New Zealand confirmed the revised date to Australian Business Traveller this afternoon, saying "the inaugural 787-9 Dreamliner service from Auckland to Perth is this Friday 12 September, departing Auckland at 2.20pm (NZT)."

AirNZ Boeing 787 programme director Kerry Reeves told Australian Business Traveller earlier this year that while October 15 was "our target and that’s when we know we can guarantee the aircraft," the Dreamliner would “absolutely” fly to Perth before then, although without being locked into a daily service.

“It will be that we will choose to go on this day, and maybe not the next day.”

"While the aircraft is likely to continue to do daily Auckland-Perth return trips following the inaugural flight this Friday, the first date it’s guaranteed on this route is October 15" the Air New Zealand spokesperson clarified to Australian Business Traveller.

A glance at Air New Zealand's schedule beyond 12 September shows several instances of a Boeing 777-200 still appearing on flight NZ175/176 until the official debut of the daily service on October 15.

Air New Zealand expects to begin Boeing 787-9 flights from Auckland to Shanghai and Tokyo later this year on delivery of its second and third Dreamliners.

Read our first-hand reviews of Air New Zealand's Boeing 787-9 business class, premium economy and economy seats, as well as the new inflight entertainment system.

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