Paint job will create world's largest commercially operated aircraft to be painted all black

Air New Zealand’s newest Boeing 777-300ER has entered Boeing’s Seattle painting facility to receive a make over that will see it become the world’s largest commercially operated aircraft painted all black.

Painting of the aircraft will take just over a week, with the aircraft expected out of the hangar during the coming weekend (NZ time) sporting its all black livery from nose to tail.

“A paint job like this is extremely complex requiring 14 expert painters at Boeing working in shifts 24 hours a day to get the job done,” says Air New Zealand Group General Manager International Airline Christopher Luxon.

“The aircraft’s all black paint job will be overlaid with a design featuring New Zealand’s distinctive silver fern that will extend across the rear of the aircraft up to its tail.”

Painting of the aircraft is part of Air New Zealand’s sponsorship of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and the World Champion All Blacks rugby team.

The aircraft, Air New Zealand’s fifth and final currently on order, is expected to be delivered to Air New Zealand in late January once the aircraft’s interior fit out is completed.

By mid next year Air New Zealand will have six aircraft featuring the all black livery including two Airbus A320s and three Beech 1900D turbo-props.