Air New Zealand has announced plans to add Boeing’s largest 787 Dreamliner model to its world-class fleet, with a commitment to buying eight 787-10 airplanes (valued at $2.7 billion at list prices).

Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon (www.airnewzealand.com), said: “This is a hugely important decision for our airline. With the 787-10 offering around 15% more space for both customers and cargo than the 787-9, this investment opens up new opportunities to grow.

“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 have ensured that the 787-10 will meet our network needs, including the ability to fly missions similar to our current 777-200 fleet.”

The 787-10 is the largest member of the Dreamliner family. At 68m long, it can carry up to 330 passengers in a standard two-class configuration — about 40 more than the 787-9. Moreover, it allows operators to achieve a 25% better fuel efficiency per seat.

Air New Zealand was a global launch customer for the 787-9 and today operates 13 of them. With another 787-9 on the way and the 787-10 airplanes in the future, the airline’s Dreamliner fleet will grow to 22.