Air New Zealand’s Skynest sleeping pods to launch on ultra long-haul flights in November

Air New Zealand’s “world-first” sleeping pods are debuting on ultra long-haul flights later this year, six years after the concept was unveiled.

Bookings for the Economy Skynest, installed on six of the airline’s newly retrofitted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, will open on May 18 for Economy and Premium Economy passengers.

Priced at $495 for a four-hour session, the Skynest hosts six lie-flat pods in a bunk bed-style layout between the two cabins, complete with mattresses, bedding, mood lighting, ventilation, privacy curtains and charging ports.

Passengers will receive a “Nestcessities” kit during the session, including an eye mask, ear plugs, socks and Aotea skincare.

Two of the retrofitted Dreamliners will begin flying Air NZ’s flagship ultra long-haul route – the Auckland-New York service – in November, opening up the Skynest for commercial use.

Initially, only two four-hour sessions will be available on each flight, designed around the body’s natural sleep cycles.

Air New Zealand will roll out its Skynest sleeping pods on long-haul flights in November, with bookings opening next month. Photo / Air NZ

“For a country as remote as New Zealand, the journey matters. International tourism is an $18.1 billion industry, but growth depends on travellers’ willingness to spend long hours in the air to get here,” Air NZ chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar said.

“[Skynest] reflects the practical innovation New Zealand is known for, and shows how thoughtful design can improve the travel experience.

“By giving more people the chance to properly rest on ultra long-haul flights, it helps make travel to and from New Zealand more manageable.”

A prototype was teased by Air NZ in February 2020, with the concept pitched as a “game changer” for long-haul economy travel.

The Skynest hosts six lie-flat pods between the Economy and Premium Economy cabins and costs $495 for a four-hour session. Photo / Air NZ

The product has been in development for nearly a decade and was tested with more than 200 customers.

The Skynest was slated to launch in September 2024 on ultra long-haul flights from Auckland to destinations such as New York and Chicago.

However, issues affecting the availability of parts pushed back the airline’s $490 million retrofit programme, with the final Dreamliners now not expected to be completed until the end of this year.

Air NZ previously experimented with alternative economy seating with the debut of the Skycouch in 2011. The concept has since been patented and licensed to international carriers such as United and China Airlines.

The airline filed patent and trademark applications for its new Skynest product in 2020.

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