Air New Zealand to roll out BEDS for economy passengers

Going on an overseas holiday is an exciting time for everyone – once you get past the uncomfortable long-haul flight.

However that could be a thing of the past as a new in-flight feature for Air New Zealand is aiming to solve passengers' biggest gripes about flying, and their solution is a world first.

The airline said feedback from extensive customer research found the top priorities for flyers were comfort and a good night's sleep, which sometimes can be impossible on planes.

Because of this, New Zealand Air's new Dreamliners will give customers a choice to book out a space to have a sleep with the new Skynest option.

"We wanted to offer our Economy customers a lie-flat option and that's how Skynest was born," Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran said in a statement.

"It's going to be a real game-changer for the economy travel experience."

He added given how geologically isolated New Zealand is from the rest of the world, the company has a "unique" opportunity to lead the world in ultra-long-haul travel.

"We have zeroed in on sleep, comfort, and wellness because we know how important it is for our customers to arrive well-rested," he said.

"Whether they are heading straight into a meeting, or to their first holiday hotspot – they want to hit the ground running."

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The Dreamliners will be available from 2024 and there were be six Skynest sleep pods on ultra-long-haul flights.

The Dreamliners will also have Business Premier Luxe seats, Business Premier seats and Premium Economy seats.

Additionally, economy seats will be "enhanced" with more storage — prioritising space and comfort — and a bigger screen for in-flight entertainment.

Premium Economy and Economy cabins will also have a 'Sky Pantry' added, so customers can help themselves to food and drink whenever they please on the fight.

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