With its “Skynest” concept, "Air New Zealand" will for the first time allow Economy Class passengers to lie flat and sleep in bunk-style pods on long-haul flights – for an additional fee and on selected routes only.
Anyone who often flies long-haul in Economy Class knows that space is limited and a good night's sleep is only possible in exceptional cases. From November 2026, "Air New Zealand" wants to change this and so is introducing lie-flat options in wooden class. Passengers can stretch out and rest for a few hours in compact sleeping pods. However, the additional comfort is subject to a charge - and can only be booked for a limited time per flight.
The so-called "Skynest" modules create six compact sleeping cabins on board, arranged one above the other like bunk beds. The bunk beds with mattresses have ventilation, reading light, storage space and USB ports and are separated from each other by curtains. Passengers also receive a small set with a sleep mask, earplugs, socks and skincare. The bed linen is changed after each use.
The offer will initially be available in the new Boeing 787-9s, which are scheduled to fly on selected routes from November 2026. It is specifically planned for long connections to and from New Zealand, with flight times of 15 hours upwards. Passengers with a ticket in Economy or Premium Economy can book an additional four-hour sleep phase. Initially, two such time slots are planned for each flight. In this way, the airline wants to ensure that as many passengers as possible have access to the berths.
In terms of price, the offer is significantly higher than the regular seat, but lower than Business Class. The airline quotes a starting price of around 495 New Zealand dollars (just under 250 euros) per four-hour use.
The system was developed over several years and tested with more than 200 passengers. The approach: sleep should also be possible in Economy Class, at least some of the time - without having to book a Business Class ticket.
