Update: From October 2024, a second ex-Cathay aircraft with the same configuration will also enter the Air New Zealand fleet. The second aircraft will primarily be used on the Auckland-Houston route.

Cathay Pacific no longer offers First Class on its services between Australia and Hong Kong. But from next month, there will be an unusual way to fly from Melbourne to Auckland in a Cathay Pacific First Class seat – without paying First Class prices!

Air New Zealand to lease a Cathay Pacific Boeing 777

With strong demand and multiple jets impacted by the recent Pratt & Whitney engine issues, Air New Zealand needs more planes.

After almost a year of using a leased Wamos Air plane for its Auckland-Perth service, Air New Zealand will also resume operating its own 787s to Perth from the end of this month. That will only put more pressure on the airline’s fleet.

Meanwhile, its partner Cathay Pacific has a surplus of wide-body aircraft. So, for the next three years, Air New Zealand will dry lease a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from Cathay Pacific. The aircraft will be re-registered in New Zealand as ZK-OKU and was previously in service for Cathay Pacific as B-KPJ.

This is similar to what Qantas is doing with Finnair, except that Air New Zealand cabin crew and pilots will operate the leased Cathay Pacific aircraft. The cabin exterior will be lightly painted to remove the Cathay Pacific branding, but only minimal Air New Zealand branding will be added.

Air New Zealand won’t modify the cabin interior, other than to make small branding changes. Air New Zealand’s usual in-flight entertainment content is likely to be available.

This means Air NZ passengers will enjoy the same seating usually found on Cathay Pacific flights.

The Kiwi national carrier has dry leased aircraft before, including a Boeing 777 from EVA Air.

Over recent years, Cathay Pacific has also been leasing aircraft to Qatar Airways.

The Cathay Pacific 777 will fly to Melbourne and Houston

From mid-November 2023 until late 2026, Air New Zealand will use this leased Boeing 777-300ER jet on selected flights between Melbourne-Auckland and Houston-Auckland. It could also pop up from time to time on other Air New Zealand routes.

In addition, the aircraft will operate three return Auckland-Sydney trips on 20, 21 and 23 November 2023.

You can tell whether you’re booking a flight on the leased Cathay Pacific aircraft as the Air New Zealand website shows different image descriptions for this aircraft. For example, a photo of the Cathay Pacific Business Class seat is shown when booking a Business Premier fare:

Air NZ is selling the First Class seats as “Business Premier Preferred”

Air New Zealand doesn’t offer First Class service. However, it is making the First Class seats on this particular plane available to Business Premier customers as “Business Premier Preferred” seats. These can be selected for a surcharge of AUD150 on trans-Tasman flights or NZD590 (~AU$550) on the Auckland-Houston route.

Passengers seated in Business Premier Preferred seats will still receive Air New Zealand’s usual Business Class service. However, the seat is a lot more spacious and comes with a personal closet, as well as an in-seat massage function. It also offers a greater level of privacy.

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 90 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include aviation, economics & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.