NZFF

While Boeing 787-9 launch customer Air New Zealand will receive three of the new model this year, there
will be a significant gap before its next wave of -9 deliveries.
The airline is set to receive its first stretched version of the 787 in July. The next is expected a
few months later, and the carrier will have three by the end of 2014.
Other carriers are also due to receive 787-9s during this period, with All Nippon Airways likely to
be the next to take its first delivery after Air New Zealand.
Following its initial three deliveries, Air New Zealand is slated to receive its fourth and fifth -9s
in 2015, company executives tell Aviation Week. These are expected to arrive in September and October
of that year, in time for the airline's summer holiday peak season. The carrier has a total of 10 on
order, with eight options.
Boeing is currently using three 787-9s in its flight-test and certification program. One of these aircraft--ZB002--was
brought to New Zealand last week, which was the longest flight conducted in the test program to date.
It then went to Alice Springs in Australia for hot weather testing.
ZB002 will eventually be refurbished and sent to Air New Zealand as its fifth delivery. The airline
will receive two of the three test-program aircraft.[/quote]