Air New Zealand’s Dreamliners will undergo the company’s biggest cabin transformation in almost 20 years.
From 2024, Air New Zealand will offer a new Business Premier Luxe suite, a new Business Premier seat and the world’s first Skynest. It will offer the most choice of any airline in its three cabins to get the best sleep in the sky. The interior design is inspired by the uniqueness of Aotearoa so customers will experience New Zealand as soon as they step onboard.
This includes a new Business Premier Luxe seat, designed for customers looking for more space, privacy and the best sleep in the sky; and Skynest, the world’s first sleep pods in the sky for Economy travelers. A game changer for economy travelers, who can now stretch out in one of six pods for part of their journey and catch some shut eye. Even inflight entertainment is being revamped – including meditative content, Zentertainment – will play on much bigger seat-back screens than on current aircraft.
Other seats include the Business Premier – a comfortable and private nest for a blissful journey and tranquil sleep. And if traveling with a companion, the middle row allows customers to open their nest and share their experience; the Premium Economy – For travelers looking for a little luxury to unwind and enjoy a taste of Aotearoa with more privacy and protected space where you can recline at leisure without interrupting the person behind; the Economy Skycouch – that will allow travelers to sit, spread out, or lie down and snooze; the Economy Stretch – for those who want to rest and stretch their legs further than the regular Economy seat and the Economy seat -with an enhanced economy seat designed with more storage, comfort and space and a 50 per cent bigger screen for entertainment.
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran points to the airline’s ambition to create the greatest flying experience and says the new cabin, combined with world-leading Kiwi hospitality, is the winning formula.
“New Zealand’s location puts us in a unique position to lead on the ultra-longhaul travel experience. We have zeroed in on sleep, comfort, and wellness because we know how important it is for our customers to arrive well-rested. Whether they are heading straight into a meeting, or to their first holiday hotspot – they want to hit the ground running.
“It’s a proud moment to finally unveil five years of hard mahi, in what truly is a cabin of possibility. One that will provide customers with options to get some shut eye wherever they’re sitting.”
Innovation has driven the new cabin experience from nose to tail. For Economy customers, the Skynest concept, first announced in 2020, will be a world-first.
“We wanted to offer our Economy customers a lie-flat option and that’s how Skynest was born. It’s going to be a real game changer for the economy travel experience.”
Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty says the cabin’s interior design is inspired by the uniqueness of Aotearoa, from the forest inspired carpet to the seats that draw inspiration from New Zealand’s native bird, the Tui.
“Whether we are welcoming visitors or flying New Zealanders home, we want our customers to experience Aotearoa from the moment they step onboard – and get the best night’s rest.
“Research shows us the first night away from home is the hardest to get a good night’s sleep so everything we do onboard is to help create a sense of calm – from the lighting and sleep ritual including sleepy teas and balms, to the healthier food choices and breathable fabrics. Meditative onscreen content, Zentertainment, will also help customers unwind and get ready for rest.
The airline has also added a Sky Pantry to the Premium Economy and Economy cabins, so customers can stretch their legs, grab a bite to eat and hydrate at their leisure throughout their journey.
“Our new cabin experience is set to be world class, and we know our customers will love it.”
Sustainability has been at the heart of the design process. Using modern fabrics, rather than leather, has saved around one kilogram in weight per Business Premier and Premium Economy seat, reducing overall carbon emissions. In Premium cabins, the airline will also switch to service ware that is 20 per cent lighter, helping to reduce carbon emissions, and in Economy, the new service ware will reduce plastic dishes used inflight by 28 million every year.
