PEAKLIFE

By Kratika Agarwal

Sleeping on long haul flights can be a nightmare, especially if you’re travelling in economy class. Bringing something unimaginable to travellers across the world, Air New Zealand has announced the world’s first sleep pods. Typically, only passengers travelling in first and business classes have access to lie-flat beds. In a game changing move, the airline is all set to roll out Skynests for economy class flyers.

Beds-on-Board for Economy Passengers

Six beds in the airline will be stacked like bunk beds in the Skynest cabin, which will be located between the premium economy and economy sections of the flight. It will be equipped with earplugs, bedding, reading lights, full-sized cosy pillows, blankets, and USB charging ports. To give everyone an opportunity to enjoy this experience, passengers will be able to avail a 4-hour sleep session, based on availability. The beds will be able to host one person at a time.

Cost of the Four-Hour Snooze

The national airline of New Zealand will charge NZ$400-$600 (US$250-$380) for a four hour booking in the cabin. The booking lines will be open from September 2024. The cabins will be made available for long-haul flights that generally take 15 hours or so to cover by air. Eight new Boeing 787 Dreamliners will feature the cabin upgrades from next year onwards.

Beyond the Boundaries of What’s Possible

The news has certainly captured worldwide attention, exciting crew and passengers alike. As per Leanne Geraghty, Air New Zealand’s chief customer and sales officer, the airline is still working on the details of how the booking process will work. The Skynests are said to be designed by the best engineers and designers in Aotearoa, using the latest technology and innovations. This bold move by Air New Zealand perhaps marks a new chapter in the future of the aviation industry.

Image Credit: Julian Light/Air New Zealand