China Southern Airlines flew the first scheduled Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight into New Zealand yesterday, arriving in Auckland from the Chinese city of Guangzhou in what's being described as a significant boost for tourism.
Eleven dignitaries from the airline filed off the high-tech, carbon fibre aircraft which arrived just before 4pm and received a powhiri welcome.
The 787 replaces the Airbus A330 previously used on the daily Guangzhou-Auckland route - a service that will be ramped up to 10 flights a week come summer.