Economy class gets an upgrade as Air NZ unveils SkyNest sleeping pods

Air New Zealand is introducing a new way for economy passengers to get some rest during long-haul flights, allowing them to pay for access to sleeping pods designed for comfort and relaxation.

According to a report by CNN, the airline announced that its newest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft will feature these pods, called Economy Skynest. Bookings are set to open on May 18, with the service expected to begin on select flights in November.

The Skynest consists of six individual sleeping spaces arranged like bunk beds. Each pod comes equipped with a mattress, bedding, a privacy curtain, a seat belt, a reading light, charging ports, and an amenity kit, according to a news release. To maintain cleanliness and comfort, cabin crew will refresh the bedding, including pillows, sheets, and blankets, between each session.

The pods are designed to improve passenger comfort on long journeys. The pods will allow customers to “stretch out, lie flat and get a few hours’ proper rest in the air,” Air New Zealand’s Chief Executive Nikhil Ravishankar said in the news release. “By giving more people the chance to properly rest on ultra long-haul flights, it helps make travel to and from New Zealand more manageable,” as reported by CNN.

In addition to the Skynest, Air New Zealand already offers a “Sky Couch,” which allows passengers to convert a row of three economy seats into a flat surface by raising the footrests. Similar concepts are gaining attention in the aviation industry, with other airlines exploring comparable seating innovations, though reactions have been mixed.

According to CNN, the airline first tested the idea of onboard sleeping pods in September 2024 and is now expanding the concept to its new Dreamliner fleet. Initially, the beds will be available on the 17-hour route between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Auckland, one of the longest flights in the world.

Passengers will be able to reserve a pod for four-hour sessions, priced at $495 each. “The airline did a fair bit of research around sleep cycles,” a representative for Air New Zealand told CNN Travel in 2022. “A typical sleep cycle is around 90 minutes, so a four-hour session gives the opportunity for customers to wind down, fall asleep and wake up,” CNN has quoted