Air New Zealand has launched the world's first sleep pods in the sky, called Skynests, according to multiple reports. The pods are available to economy passengers, marking a significant innovation in affordable long-haul travel. According to Daily Mail - Home, Nikhil Ravishankar described the initiative as making travel to and from New Zealand more manageable by giving more people the chance to properly rest on ultra long-haul flights.
Skynests will be available from November 2026, according to major media. They will initially be available on flights between New York and Auckland, according to multiple reports. Bookings for Skynest open on May 18, according to multiple reports, allowing passengers to secure their sleep sessions well in advance of the service launch.
Skynests consist of six individual lie-flat nests, according to multiple reports. Each Skynest nest is about 203cm long and 64cm wide, according to multiple reports. Each Skynest has a privacy curtain, ambient lighting, a reading light, USB-A and USB-C charging ports, ventilation outlets, and space to store small personal items, according to multiple reports, creating a compact but functional sleeping environment.
A Skynest session lasts four hours, according to multiple reports. Skynest sessions can be booked in addition to Economy or Premium Economy seats, according to multiple reports. The price for a Skynest session is NZ$495 (£215), according to multiple reports, though there is a discrepancy as some sources indicate the price starts from $495 (£365). Skynests are only available to passengers aged 15 and over, according to multiple reports.
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.
Passengers booking a Skynest receive an amenity kit containing eye masks, socks, and skincare, according to multiple reports, though there is a contradiction as some sources list additional items including fresh sheets, blankets, pillows, earplugs, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and hand cream. Skynest sessions must be booked outside meal times, according to major media. Passengers can only book one Skynest session per flight, according to major media.
The sleeping pod area is a shared space, so passengers will be close to others and cannot sit upright, according to major media. Double-bunking, eating in the pods, and bringing children are not allowed in Skynests, according to major media. Passengers are encouraged to tone down on wearing heavy perfume in Skynests, according to major media, to maintain a comfortable environment for all users.
Middle and top Skynest pods are elevated and accessed via a small step-ladder, while bottom nests require bending down for entry, according to major media. Passengers requiring special assistance may book Skynest, provided they can enter and exit the pods independently or with their own safety assistants, according to major media.
With two sessions per flight, a total of 12 passengers per service can book a Skynest bunk, according to major media. Depending on demand, the number of Skynest bunks could be expanded beyond six per aircraft, according to major media.
We really do hope that this starts a bit of a revolution in economy class travel, where sleep becomes available to more customers. One sleep in New York, you wake up, and you're in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
Air New Zealand previously launched the Skycouch, the world's first economy row that converts into a bed, in 2010, according to major media. The Skycouch transforms a standard three-seat economy row into a flexible, lie-flat surface with adjustable leg rests, according to major media, demonstrating the airline's history of innovative seating solutions.
United Airlines recently unveiled a seat design that transforms an entire row into a shared sofa, complete with a blanket and extra pillows, according to major media. United Airlines is the first among North American airlines to offer the unique seating concept, according to major media, indicating broader industry trends toward enhanced economy class comfort.
It remains unclear what specific routes beyond New York-Auckland will see Skynests rolled out, and whether they will be available on all Boeing 787-9 aircraft in Air New Zealand's fleet or only select ones. How Air New Zealand will enforce the rules against double-bunking, eating in pods, and heavy perfume is also unknown, as is the exact process for booking a Skynest session outside meal times. The integration of the Skynest booking system with existing flight reservations has not been detailed.
According to Daily Express - Travel, Nikhil Ravishankar described hoping that Skynests start a revolution in economy class travel where sleep becomes available to more customers, with the experience of sleeping in New York and waking up in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.