Air New Zealand's Last Stored 787-9 Returns to Service After Nine-Month Wait

After almost nine months in long-term storage at Alice Springs Airport (ASP) in Australia, Air New Zealand's last Boeing 787-9 aircraft to be grounded due to Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine issues has returned to service. The aircraft, ZK-NZD, was ferried to ASP on September 12, 2025, and underwent engine changes before being sent for overhaul.

The Trent 1000 groundings created a significant capacity problem for Air New Zealand, which lost around 1.7% of its international long-haul capacity in the financial year ending June 2026. The airline had to lease additional aircraft, including two Airbus A350-1000s and a Boeing 777-300ER from Cathay Pacific, to cover part of the shortfall.

The engine issues have cost Air New Zealand approximately $112 million (NZ$190 million) in earnings in the first half of 2026, including lost capacity, additional aircraft leases, and operational inefficiencies. The airline expects another headwind of $41-53 million (NZ$70-90 million) due to the Trent 1000 issues in the current financial year.