- FAA certified increased maximum takeoff weight for Boeing 787 9 and 787 10.
- Upgrade allows more payload or longer routes.
- 787 9 gains three metric tonnes payload or 300 nautical miles range.
- 787 10 gains five metric tonnes payload or 400 nautical miles range.
- Air New Zealand activates capability on its fleet.
The United States Federal Aviation Administration certified an increased maximum takeoff weight for Boeing 787 9 and 787 10 types. Boeing confirmed the upgrade allows airlines to carry more payload or fly longer routes. Air New Zealand became one of the first operators to use the new capability.
All Boeing 787 9 and 787 10 aircraft assembled from December 2025 are structurally capable of the greater weight. Airlines can activate the capability at delivery or later. The roughly 4 540 kilogramme increase for the 787 9 enables three metric tonnes extra payload or over 300 nautical miles additional range.
The 6 350 kilogramme increase for the 787 10 enables five metric tonnes extra payload or more than 400 nautical miles additional range. Air New Zealand operates 14 Boeing 787 9 aircraft and plans to add five more 787 9 and five 787 10 aircraft.
John Murphy shared “some wanted the B787 10 to fly longer missions others wanted the B787 9 to carry additional payload with range trade offs.”
Baden Smith shared “this upgrade gives us greater ability to carry additional payload on our ultra long haul routes an important enabler for our network ambitions.”
