From the year after next, Air New Zealand passengers will be able to book a seat in a sleeping capsule on so-called ultra-long-haul flights.
Air New Zealand airline will soon be allowing economy passengers to lie down and nap on planes in bunk bed-style sleeping pods. This should make it easier for passengers to decide whether to order tickets for the 17-hour ultra-long-haul flights on offer.
Passengers can thus – for an additional charge – book periods limited to four hours in flat sleeping capsules, which the airline calls “Skynest”.
Air New Zealand calls the planned innovation “Skynest”.
The capsules have a mattress and a sheet. They will be installed in pairs, one above the other, in order to use the full height of the cabin, have a privacy screen, USB charging and ventilation options, as the British “Guardian”, which first reported on the innovation, summarizes on its homepage.
An Air New Zealand spokeswoman told the Guardian that exact pricing for a four-hour session in one of the beds has not yet been determined.
Other airlines are also currently trying to make long-haul flights more attractive. In May this year, Qantas revealed details of its plans to operate non-stop flights from Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York. The so-called “Project Sunrise” flights, some of which last 20 hours, are scheduled to start at the end of 2025. For this purpose, Qantas has not announced any economy sleeping cabins, but new “feel-good zones”. Economy passengers should be able to move freely and stretch out in peace.
On ultra-long-haul flights – i.e. those with a flight time of at least 16 hours – two crews take turns in the cockpit. A good entertainment system with a large selection of movies is usually important for passengers so that the time passes quickly. But also being able to move around a little or even lie down will certainly make an ultra-long-haul flight more interesting and bearable for many.
Sources: Guardian, Air New Zealand
