Air New Zealand's world-first heavier-lifting Boeing 787 Dreamliner touched down in Auckland last night, but economy passengers hoping to stretch out in its Skynest sleeping pods will have to wait until after summer.
The aircraft, ZK-NZT, has an increased maximum take-off weight – with capacity to carry more customers, baggage and cargo on ultra long-haul routes such as Auckland-New York.
It’s the first new 787 to join the airline’s fleet in seven years, and more than a decade since Air NZ became the launch customer for the 787-9 in 2014. A second new Dreamliner, ZK-NZS, is due in the coming days.
The Skynest cabin configuration was originally set to launch in December. The airline said yesterday that the product itself was ready, but the overseas authority certifying it didn’t have the resources to finish approvals on time.
Air NZ first showed off the Skynest in 2020. The six lie-flat pods are stacked three high in a bunk-style layout, squeezed in between the Economy and Premium Economy cabins. The airline has called them the world’s first sleep pods for economy flyers.
Economy and Premium Economy passengers can pay to add a four-hour session in a pod to their booking. Sessions start from $495, and bookings opened in May. Each pod is about two metres long and comes with a full-length mattress, a seatbelt for turbulence and a privacy curtain. Crews change the bedding after each session.
Air New Zealand chief customer and digital officer Jeremy O’Brien said the airline didn’t want to leave a new plane sitting idle over its busiest season.
"That means thousands of customers can enjoy our newest cabins over summer, while we continue working with Boeing towards bringing this world-first innovation to life.
"We'll confirm the new launch date for the Skynest once the timeline is clear," he said.
The new product will be available to book from next month, and features six lie-flat pods in bunk-style layout. (Source: Breakfast)
New cabins on board
The new Dreamliners will have 219 seats. That's eight Business Premier Luxe, 34 Business Premier and 52 Premium Economy seats, plus 125 Economy seats, nine of them Skycouch and 24 Economy Stretch.
O'Brien said welcoming a brand-new aircraft was "really special".
"From our new Business Premier Luxe seats to our redesigned Economy interiors, we've thought about every part of the journey. We want customers to step onboard and feel the difference," he said.
He said the timing suited the airline as summer approached.
"Summer is just around the corner, and having these new aircraft ready to fly means more customers can enjoy our latest onboard experience during our busiest season," he said.
Thirteen of Air NZ's 14 existing 787-9s already have the new interiors, and the final retrofit should be flying by the end of the year. The airline's Boeing 777 fleet will get new Business Premier and Economy cabins next year.
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