Air New Zealand has announced that economy passengers on its ultra-long-haul flights between Auckland and New York will be able to book a four-hour session in bunk-bed style sleeping pods from May. The pods, known as 'Skynest', will debut on the airline's new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which is set to enter service in late 2026.
The Skynest consists of six full-length, lie-flat sleeping pods installed in the aisle of the aircraft, offering fresh bedding, a privacy curtain, ambient lighting, and a kit containing eye masks, skincare, earplugs and socks. Each session costs NZ$495 (approximately £215), with two sessions available per flight and a limit of one slot per passenger.
Passengers will still need to purchase a traditional seat, with the pods intended as an add-on. The airline has set strict rules: no double-bunking, no eating snacks, and no smuggling children. Guidelines advise passengers to 'go easy on perfumes and potions' but reassure snorers that earplugs are provided.
Chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar said that for a country as remote as New Zealand, 'the journey matters', and that improving rest on long flights helps make travel more manageable. The Skynest was first announced in 2020; bookings open on 18 May for flights starting in November.
Air New Zealand already offers the Skycouch, which converts a row of seats into a makeshift bed. Other airlines are also introducing perks for economy passengers: United Airlines plans lie-flat spaces from 2027, and Qantas will have a 'wellness zone' on its Sydney-London route from June.
The announcement comes amid challenges for the airline industry. In the UK, demand and spending have fallen for the first time in five years, according to Barclays, due to rising fuel costs and disruptions from the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Air New Zealand suspended its full-year earnings outlook in March and raised fares, later cutting 4% of its flights in April.
