Air New Zealand has lengthy factored sleep into its selections, developing with artistic options to assist its passengers discover a sense of calm and peace on ultra-long-haul flights (as much as 18 hours from the US). The Auckland-based flag provider first got here up with the Skycouch—three side-by-side economic system seats with footrests that pull as much as kind a “sofa”—in 2011, altering the journey sport for households with younger youngsters, {couples}, and solo vacationers prepared to pay for a bit extra space.
Beginning in early 2026, passengers will be capable to strive Air New Zealand’s newest innovation: the world’s first lie-flat sleep pods in economic system, or the Skynest, set to debut on the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliners. This a lot anticipated addition to its fleet has skilled just a few delays (it was initially set to launch in September 2024), however the airplanes’ retrofit is presently underway. The Skynests will first seem on routes from New York to Auckland.
“We wish to create the world’s greatest flying expertise,” Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran stated in an interview again in 2023 when the Skynest was first gearing as much as launch. That extends, in fact, to how nicely you sleep on that long-haul flight.
“Analysis exhibits us the primary night time away from house is the toughest to get a superb night time’s sleep, so every little thing we do onboard is to assist create a way of calm—from the lighting and sleep ritual together with sleepy teas and balms, to the more healthy meals decisions and breathable materials,” chief buyer and gross sales officer Leanne Geraghty stated in a press release. “Meditative onscreen content material, Zentertainment, can even assist clients unwind and prepare for relaxation.”
How Air New Zealand’s Skynest works
Resembling the bunk-style beds utilized by flight attendants on long-haul flights (or these present in pod motels), every Skynest options six beds—three stacked vertically on either side of the designated space, with a ladder within the center to offer quick access to the higher bunks. These pods are designed to permit passengers to recline and nap for a portion of the flight and every one will embody a pillow, sheets, and blanket (that are modified between passengers), earplugs, a separate studying gentle, and private USB outlet. In addition they have a curtain for added privateness.
Every Skynest mattress will probably be out there to ebook in four-hour periods, after takeoff, through the flight, and earlier than touchdown. Passengers will probably be restricted to at least one session per flight. This feature will probably be out there to each Economic system and Premium Economic system passengers to ebook. Enterprise-class passengers received’t be capable to ebook a Skynest pod.
How a lot will the Skynest beds price?
In 2022, Geraghty stated the Air New Zealand staff was “ round $400 to $600 for the four-hour interval.” Throughout a go to to the Air New Zealand workplaces in November 2024, representatives informed the Afar staff that costs for the Skynest nonetheless had not but been confirmed however that they may possible be within the $400–$600 vary that Geraghty quoted. This will probably be along with the price of the airline ticket.
From prototype to actuality
The Skynest prototype was first unveiled again in 2020, across the time a brand new Auckland–New York direct flight was meant to debut. Attributable to border closures through the pandemic, each have been bumped again. The New York nonstop—a virtually 18-hour flight in a single course—launched in late 2024, however the up to date Dreamliners, full with SkyNests, have been delayed till early 2026.
Different updates to Air New Zealand’s aircrafts
Economic system isn’t the one a part of the plane getting some love from Air New Zealand. The brand new and retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners becoming a member of the Air New Zealand fleet are getting updates all through the whole airplane.
All in all, these adjustments will cut back the full variety of seats on Air New Zealand’s plane: from 305 to 272 seats on one configuration of the Dreamliner 787-9 and from 275 to 214 seats on the second configuration. However these adjustments are supposed to enhance the premium choices throughout the board.
Air New Zealand is swapping out the herringbone-style seating association in its Enterprise Premier cabin for pods (just like what different airways have adopted in recent times, like United’s Polaris or Air France’s Premiere seats) that can provide a extra personal expertise. Passengers flying collectively can decrease the partition and share their area. However the greatest change with this seat is that passengers will be capable to convert their seat to a lie-flat mattress with out help. (At present, Air New Zealand flight attendants put the beds collectively for passengers following meal service.)
There can even be an much more spacious Enterprise Premier Luxe possibility with sleeping quarters with a door that absolutely closes and area for 2 to dine. Planes may have 4–8 Enterprise Premiere Luxe seats and 22–34 Enterprise Premier seats, relying on the airplane.
The airline is growing its enterprise seats throughout each varieties from 18 to 26 in a single configuration, and from 27 to 42 in its second configuration.
The seats in Premium Economic system will probably be given an improve, too. There be extra of them (up from 21–33 seats per airplane to 33–54 seats), and the outdated seats will probably be swapped out for newer ones with bigger seatback screens, extra storage, and a devoted space to stash and cost telephones.
Even economic system seats are getting further consideration. Whereas the usual economic system seat will stay at pitch of 31 inches, the staff is including an economic system stretch possibility at a pitch of 35 inches. There will probably be between 15-30 economic system stretch seats out there.
Bigger seatback screens are coming to the whole cabin, for all seat courses, and all passengers will be capable to pair to their units to them by way of Bluetooth. The up to date plane can even function a Sky Pantry space, the place economic system fliers can stretch and seize a snack or drink at their leisure.
This text was initially printed in 2022. It was most just lately up to date on February 5, 2025, with new info. Bailey Berg and Jessie Beck contributed to reporting.