Air New Zealand confirms order for new Boeing aircraft

Air New Zealand has confirmed it will purchase eight 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft from manufacturer, Boeing.

The national carrier announced its intentions to invest in the aircraft in May, and the deal was formalised last night.

The purchase, worth US$2.7 billion at list prices will deliver the airline a fleet of aircraft to replace its current Boeing 777-200 fleet.

Air NZ currently has nine 777-200s that operate a range of routes through Australia, Asia and the United States.

Boeing's light-weight carbon-fibre Dreamliner burns 25 percent less fuel per passenger than a 777-200 and goes further. 

Once delivered, Air NZ's international fleet will be made up mostly of Boeing Dreamliners. A mix of the new 787-10's and the current fleet of smaller 787-9's.

There has been increased speculation that Air NZ is close to announcing its intentions to launch a non-stop flight from Auckland to New York.

In May, Air NZ's CEO Christopher Luxon told Newshub the Dreamliner aircraft has the ability to fly the more than 14,000-kilometre route.

"It will be a member of the 787 family of aircraft. It's a question for us if we do it with the 787-10 or the 787-9, but certainly it will be a 787 type aircraft that will be able to do it," he said.

Reuters/Newshub.