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The test aircraft lands in Auckland. Boeing photo.
The new version of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner has made its international debut.
The 787-9 flew to Auckland, home of launch customer Air New Zealand, this week from the United States as part of a test program.
The aircraft, codenamed ZB002, took off from Seattle at 9:55 a.m. Friday and landed in Auckland 13 hours, 49 minutes later, marking its longest flight since the program began, Boeing said.
The airplane is scheduled to continue on to Alice Springs, Australia, for testing in hot weather, the company said.
The ZB002 is the only 787-9 fitted with elements of the passenger interior.
The 787-9 is 20 feet longer and can seat 40 more passengers than the Dreamliner 787-8, which went into service in October 2011.
Air New Zealand, which has ordered 10 aircraft, will get its first 787-9 in the middle of this year.
The airline plans to use it on the Auckland-Perth route, starting October.
In all, 26 customers, including Air Canada, have ordered 402 787-9 Dreamliners.
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