No double-bunking or snacks – but snoring is fine: Air New Zealand’s economy sleep pods set for launch | Airline industry
Economy passengers on Air New Zealand’s ultra-long-haul flight between Auckland and New York can book seats in the airline’s bunk-bed-style sleeping pods, which will take to the skies in late 2026, from May.
Six full-size, horizontal sleeping pods, a world first, are being squeezed into the aisle of the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, the airline said. Known as “Skynest,” the pods will include clean linens, a privacy curtain, ambient lighting and a kit consisting of eye masks, skin care, earplugs and socks.
Premium and economy class passengers will need to purchase conventional seats for the 17-hour flight, but will also have the option to book a four-hour capsule session for an additional fee of NZ$500-600 ($295; £217) per session. Initially, two sessions will be available per flight and passengers will be limited to booking a single slot.
Those who choose to sleep in capsules will be close to other napping passengers and will have nowhere to sit. “Double bunk” is also prohibited, as is eating snacks or smuggling in children.
The airline’s guidelines ask passengers to “be careful with perfumes and potions” because “not everyone is dreaming of vanilla-sandalwood-cloud-musk”, but snorers won’t be embarrassed: “statistically, someone will. That could be you. That’s okay. Everyone is given earplugs just in case”.
Nikhil Ravishankar, the airline’s chief executive, said that for a remote country like New Zealand, “the journey is important” and attracting people to this remote country “depends on passengers’ willingness to spend long hours in the air to get here.”
“By giving more people the chance to properly rest on ultra-long-haul flights, it helps make travel to and from New Zealand easier to manage.”
Air New Zealand first announced it would develop Skynest in 2020. The pods will be available to book from 18 May for services starting in November.
The airline already offers sky sofaPassengers or their families who have booked a row seat in economy class or have a spare seat next to it can request special footrests that convert the row into a makeshift bed for an additional fee.
Air New Zealand’s announcement comes as other airlines seek to offer benefits to economy passengers on long-haul flights. In March, United Airlines announced it would allow passengers to convert three rows of seats into a flat area starting in 2027. Meanwhile, Qantas will have a “wellness area” for what will be the world’s longest commercial flight connecting Sydney and London from June.
It remains to be seen whether the added benefits (often at additional cost) will encourage passengers to return to air travel. Demand and spending in the UK fell for the first time in five years due to rising fuel costs and disruption caused by the US-Israeli war against Iran, according to Barclays bank.
In March, Air New Zealand suspended its full-year earnings outlook and increased fares due to volatility in jet fuel markets and conflict in the Middle East – one of the first carriers to announce price increases. It cut nearly 4% of its flights in April, affecting 1% of its passengers.
