Air New Zealand has decided to suspend its Auckland-Seoul Incheon route due to capacity constraints stemming from engine shortages and delayed refurbishment of its B787-9s.
The first B787-9 was ferried to Singapore Changi for cabin refurbishment on October 13, with an anticipated return shortly after Christmas; however, delays have pushed timelines further back, including a postponed re-entry into service from mid-February to mid-year.
Currently, Air New Zealand has two remaining B787-9 aircraft out of service, alongside five A321-200NX stored at various locations, while the seasonal flights to Seoul are expected to return no earlier than 2026.
Despite these challenges, the airline has leased three B777-300ERs to help mitigate the impact of its out-of-service fleet and plans to retrofit all fourteen of its B787-9s by the end of 2026, with hopes of completing seven by the end of 2025.
