AIR New Zealand’s fully redesigned Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (TD yesterday) is an aggressive push from the carrier on the premium market, CCO Jeremy O’Brien told TD.
The retrofitted aircraft, the first of which was unveiled yesterday in Auckland, will feature all-new business premier luxe seats, which O’Brien hops will increase Air New Zealand’s share of front-of-plane travellers.
This will also see Air NZ increase the premium density on board its fleet, allowing it to offer a higher-end product at greater scale.
“By the time we’ve done all 14 [retrofitted] aircraft, it’ll be 27% in our premium cabin capacity,” O’Brien declared.
“When we bring in our new ultra-long-haul aircraft, over 50% of it is either premium economy or business premium…we’re really going after the premium leisure traveller.
O’Brien said this renewed focus allows Air NZ to capture a breed of guests more insulated to the macroeconomic effects which plague mezzanine-level travellers.
“Over time, it has been shown that the travel segment is a lot more resistant to cycles, and so in terms of having a really strong customer base that can ride the ups and downs of economic changes, we believe that gives us a whole lot more stability.”
O’Brien is confident Air New Zealand’s future premium cabins can stand out from the crowd, in a highly competitive luxury air travel sector.
“We believe we can compete with the best in the market,” O’Brien enthused.
“Over the years, we have a great reputation for fantastic crew and service, for really good food and beverage, and so the ability for us to elevate the hard product is the last part of that mix for us.” MS
