Air New Zealand have announced that its new economy ‘Skynest’ will be available to book this May as it prepares to enter service on the Auckland-New York route in autumn 2026.

In development since 2020, the airline claims its sleeping pod is the first of its kind in the world. Featuring six bunk beds, passengers in economy or premium economy class can pay extra to reserve the cabin-within-the-cabin for one of two four-hour sessions. Prices for a session begin at NZ$495,

Air New Zealand CEO Nikhil Ravishanka said:

For a country as remote as New Zealand, the journey matters. Tourism is a NZ$46 billion industry, but growth depends on travellers’ willingness to spend long hours in the air to get here.

Skynest is designed to help make that easier. It reflects the practical innovation New Zealand is known for, and shows how thoughtful design can improve the travel experience. 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.

The Skynest features full-length mattresses with extra amenities including fresh bedding, eye masks, earplugs, and privacy curtains to create a restful environment. More than 200 passengers helped shape the product over five years of testing.

Skynest is the latest enhancement to Air New Zealand’s long-haul seating offering, including the Skycouch. Announced last year, for an extra fee passengers on a row of three economy seats can add footrests that transform the seats into a makeshift bed. United Airlines recently unveiled a similar concept, the ‘Relax Row’, as airlines try to enhance comfort on lengthy flights while tapping into the premiumisation trend.

Ravishankar adds:

Skycouch gave customers more choice in how they travel, and Skynest builds on that by offering a new option for rest on our longest flights. It is about recognising that customers value flexibility, comfort and control, and giving more people the opportunity to travel in a way that works better for them.

Join us at World Aviation Festival 2026 to discover more about premiumisation. 

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