Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International) is "rephasing" deliveries of its remaining firm-ordered B787s as manufacturing delays and the faster-than-expected return of grounded aircraft prompt the carrier to reassess its fleet growth plans.

The airline said the first two General Electric GEnx-powered B787-9s have been delayed into the second half of 2026. Air New Zealand is now working with Boeing to "reprofile our aircraft deliveries to smooth capital expenditure."

"Due to manufacturing delays, our first two new B787-9 deliveries have been pushed further into the first half of FY27. As a result of these delays, there is a concertina effect now in the capital expenditure profile for FY27, and we're working actively with Boeing to re-phase the delivery stream," chief financial officer Richard Thomson said during the airline's strategy update.

During an earnings call in February 2026, Thomson said Air New Zealand expected "slight delays in the manner of months" for the third, fourth, and fifth B787 deliveries.

Meanwhile, Air New Zealand said all fourteen of its existing B787-9s have now returned to service following prolonged Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-related groundings, while only two A320neo family aircraft remain out of service, down from a peak of six.

Air New Zealand also confirmed that it expects to complete the retrofit of its fourteen B787-9s by November 2026, while retrofit work on its B777 fleet will continue as part of the carrier's long-haul product renewal programme.

The airline recently launched a strategic plan aimed at restoring profitability through targeted growth, improved operational reliability, tighter capital discipline, and lower costs. As part of the initiative, it has identified an additional NZD100 million New Zealand dollars (USD56.6 million) in annualised cost savings, with benefits expected to begin accruing from the financial year ending June 2027.

Air New Zealand operates a fleet of 115 aircraft, comprising seventeen A320-200s, six A320-200Ns, fourteen A321-200NX, thirty-one ATR72-600s, ten B777-300ERs, fourteen B787-9s, and twenty-three DHC-8-Q300s.