Boeing's new Air New Zealand 777-300ER, the world's largest commercially operated aircraft to be painted all black, will touch down in New Zealand for the first time tomorrow morning (Thursday January 12) at Auckland International Airport.

The aircraft's all black paint job is overlaid with a design featuring New Zealand's distinctive silver fern that extends across the rear of the aircraft up to its tail. The paint job was extremely complex requiring 14 expert painters at Boeing working in shifts 24 hours a day to get the job done.

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's flight path over Auckland will depend on weather and wind conditions on the day but its arrival at Auckland Airport is expected at approximately 9:00 a.m.

Expected flight path if landing on runway 23L to the southwest:

The aircraft will approach Auckland from the northeast over Browns Bay at approximately 8:40 a.m. before tracking to Whenuapai then turning left to fly at lower altitude over the harbour bridge and past the eastern beaches. At Music Point it will turn right towards Mangere Bridge to overfly Auckland International Airport from the north. The aircraft will then position to land overflying Manukau.

Expected flight path if landing on runway 05R to the northeast:

The aircraft will approach Auckland from the northeast between Waiheke Island and Motutapu Island at approximately 8:40 a.m., turn right over Browns Island and fly at lower altitude down the harbour over the harbour bridge towards Te Atatu before turning left over the Balmoral Three Kings area to overfly Auckland International Airport from the north. The aircraft will then position to land over the Manukau Harbour.