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Dave

Air New Zealand introduces Skynest Sleep Pods for Economy passengers

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Air New Zealand has announced the launch of Skynest, the world’s first sleep pods in the sky, which will be available from September 2024.

The airline is responding to overwhelming customer feedback on the importance of sleep and the need for more comfort and space during long-haul flights.

The Skynest will be a six-pod configured sleep zone located between Premium Economy and Economy cabins. It will provide economy passengers with the opportunity to lie flat and rest during longer flights, adding more flexibility to the economy travel experience.

Each Skynest pod will include a full-size pillow, sheets and blanket, earplugs, a separate reading light, personal device USB outlet, ventilation outlet, and lighting designed for rest. The bedding will be changed between each session, and a 30-minute transition time will be allowed for this. The lights will gently come on at the end of each session, and crew will politely wake any passengers who sleep through this. Each passenger will be limited to one session, with families travelling on the same ticket able to book a session for each passenger, pending availability.

The Skynest concept has been a world-first since it was first announced in 2020.

Skynest: the world’s first sleep pods in the sky, offering economy passengers a new way to rest on long-haul flights

Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty says Skynest is going to be a real game changer, adding more flexibility to the economy travel experience. Skynest provides economy passengers with another opportunity to lie flat and rest during longer flights, making it a particularly attractive option for UK-based business travellers.

Air New Zealand’s new Dreamliners, due to arrive in 2024, will provide “the most choice of any airline in the world”, offering the best sleep in the sky regardless of the cabin customers choose to fly in.

The new cabin experience has been driven by innovation from nose to tail, and the Skynest is just one of the exciting new offerings. The interior design of the cabin is inspired by the uniqueness of Aotearoa, the Maori name for New Zealand, so customers will experience New Zealand as soon as they step onboard.

The new cabin experience includes a new Business Premier Luxe suite, a new Business Premier seat, and the Skynest. The Business Premier Luxe seat is designed for customers looking for more space and privacy, while the Skynest is the world’s first sleep pods in the sky for economy travellers.

For economy customers, the Skynest concept may well be a game changer.

Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran points to the airline’s ambition to create the greatest flying experience, and the new cabin, combined with world-leading Kiwi hospitality, is the winning formula.

Sustainability has been at the heart of the design process, and the use of modern fabrics has saved around one kilogram in weight per Business Premier and Premium Economy seat, reducing overall carbon emissions.

Air New Zealand’s Skynest is set to revolutionise the economy travel experience, providing a game-changing option for UK-based business travellers. With Skynest, Air New Zealand is offering the most choice of any airline in the world, providing the best sleep in the sky regardless of the cabin customers choose to fly in. The Skynest is just one of the exciting new offerings in the airline’s innovative new cabin experience, which includes a new Business Premier Luxe suite, a new Business Premier seat, and other options for customers looking for more space and privacy.

Dave

Stretch out on Air New Zealand

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Recognising one size doesn’t fit all, Air New Zealand customers flying the Auckland – Los Angeles route will now have three ways to fly in Economy: Economy, Economy Skycouch and the new Economy Stretch.

From an additional NZD $175 one-way, customers can upgrade to a dedicated stretch zone in the first four rows, enhancing the economy travel experience by having:

  • Up to 39% more legroom than the airline’s standard Economy seat
  • A roomy 35-inch (89cm) seat pitch
  • A comfortable headset and pillow designed for long-haul comfort
  • Free advanced seat selection and early disembarkation

As Air New Zealand operates some of the world’s longest flights, Chief Customer and Sales Office Leanne Geraghty says space and comfort is always high on travellers’ wish lists.

Customers have told us they want more room to relax, and at a competitive price. Economy Stretch answers this challenge, with some luxury for the legs all while enjoying our renowned in-flight service, Kiwi cuisine and wine, and seat-back entertainment.

Through innovations such as the Economy Skycouch and with Economy Skynest launching later next year, Air New Zealand continues to push boundaries in Economy travel.

The Economy cabin welcomes the most diverse group of travellers. The introduction of Economy Stretch means we are providing more choice for customers at an Economy price point that will meet the needs of families, solo travellers, as well as those just looking for that little bit extra of extra comfort.”

There are 42 Economy Stretch seats on the airline’s Boeing 777s.

Seats are subject to availability and are charged on a per sector basis.

Dave

Air New Zealand highlights Māori culture and values in new safety video

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As New Zealand reopens to the world, Araraurangi Air New Zealand has launched a new safety video – this time it’s the story of the Tiaki Promise. A promise that encourages both New Zealanders and international visitors to care for our place, our culture and our people.

The story follows Tiaki, a young man who boards a waka rererangi (flying canoe) and sets off on an adventure across Aotearoa.

Tiaki and the Guardians rolled out across Air New Zealand’s international and domestic fleet from Monday, 9 May 2022.

With the help of Air New Zealand and Julie (a character that embodies the rest of New Zealand), he visits four Māori guardians including Papatūānuku (the land), Tangaroa (sea), Tāne Mahuta (forest) and Ranginui (sky). Along the way he seeks advice from these guardians on how better to look after them.

Air New Zealand General Manager Brand and Marketing Jeremy O’Brien says as people start to return to Aotearoa, this safety video is an invitation to them to act like guardians while they’re here:

We want tourism to build back better than it was before and part of that is to share with our visitors a sense of kaitiaki – to encourage them to act like guardians of our country. Our Safety Videos are world renowned and through them, we have an opportunity to educate and inspire ourselves, our customers and Aotearoa on the importance of Tiaki and everything it stands for. It’s about being good hosts, and good visitors.

Julie’s character in the safety video is there to show that caring for New Zealand isn’t something Tiaki can do alone. It requires all of us to follow the Promise and commit to protecting Aotearoa for future generations to come.

I’d like to thank Pou Tikanga and storyteller, Joe Harawira, New Zealand Māori Tourism and the New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute for guiding us, right from concept to the building of the waka, and the cultural formalities we followed throughout. The collaborative effort has helped us share this story and the principles of Tiaki authentically.

The airline worked closely with the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute to design the waka and its carvings. From there it was taken to the various filming locations and flown on wires to create real shadows and textures for post-production.

Cutting-edge LED stage screens, used in The Mandalorian TV series, helped to bring the legends of Māori culture to life, and it was this motion technology that created a seamless shift from the real world to the fantastical.

In 2018, Air New Zealand, along with six other organisations, created the Tiaki Promise – a way to educate New Zealand visitors about protecting and enhancing our country – and this safety video builds on the work already at play with the Promise.

The Tiaki Promise sees travellers:

  • Care for land, sea and nature. Treading lightly and leaving no trace.
  • Travel safely, showing care and consideration for all.
  • Respect culture, travelling with an open heart and mind.
A behind-the-scenes view of the Air New Zealand safety video


Dave

Twenty airlines commit to use new technologies to minimise climate impact

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Twenty airline members of the World Economic Forum’s Target True Zero initiative have committed to utilising new technologies, such as electric, hydrogen and hybrid aircraft, to address the challenge of climate change.

The development and delivery of novel propulsion technologies – powered by sustainable energy sources – were highlighted as key towards helping the aviation industry minimize its environmental impact.

In a statement, the WEF said ‘the adoption of these technologies into the global fleet – through either new aircraft design or the retrofitting of conventional aircraft – can help reduce the climate impact of our operations while preserving the immense economic and social benefits that aviation brings to the world’.

The signatory airlines – Aero, Air New Zealand, Air Nostrum, Alaska Airlines, Amelia, ASL Aviation Holdings, Braathens Regional Airlines, easyJet, Finistair, Icelandair, Iskwew Air, Loganair, Mokulele, Ravn Alaska, SoundsAir, Southern Airways Express, Surf Air Mobility, Viva Aerobus, Waltzing Matilda Aviation and Xwing – operate over 800 aircraft and carry over 177 million passengers on 1.8 million flights a year and hope to use this influence to create market demand for new types of aircraft.

Key commitments:

  • Short-haul flights first – Shorter range flights were recognised as most likely to employ novel propulsion first. The signatories committed to working towards 30% of aircraft, that serve routes of 750km or less, that are added to their fleets from 2030 onwards employ novel propulsion technologies.
  • Scaling the technology in the future – The airlines also committed to decarbonising longer range aircraft, once this becomes technologically and economically viable.
  • Partnership – The signatories called on aerospace manufactures to prioritize innovation that will allow them to meet these goals.
  • Public-private cooperation – The Target True-Zero airlines also urged governments to do their part in supporting the transition to cleaner aviation. Key calls included establishing policies to provide incentives for operators to adopt these technologies and addressing the infrastructure issues needed to support their use in airports across the world.
Head of Aerospace and Drones at the WEF, Timothy Reuter

Timothy Reuter, Head of Aerospace and Drones, of the World Economic Forum said

The Target True Zero initiative will address the role novel propulsion technologies like electric and hydrogen aviation can play in the transition to an aviation system with true zero climate impacts.

It will address issues in the areas of technology, industry dynamics, infrastructure and supply chain, regulation, and public acceptance.

By accelerating the adoption of solutions with fewer climate impacts, we can ensure equitable growth around the globe while ensuring a healthy planet for future generations.

Uma Subramanian, Chief Executive Officer, Aero said

Uma Subramanian, Aero Chief Executive Officer

At Aero, we are deeply committed to charting our industry’s path to zero emissions and minimising its environmental impact.

We are proud to work with the World Economic Forum and industry leaders to accelerate change in the aviation sector and tackle the most pressing issue of our generation.

The World Economic Forum launched the Target True Zero Initiative in July 2021.

The Initiative aims to develop understanding about how novel propulsion technology can help address aviation’s climate impacts and how the deployment and scaling of these technologies can be accelerated.

Twenty member airlines from across the aviation sector joined the 10 November statement, from global market leaders to local commuter airlines, along with knowledge partners McKinsey and Company, the Aviation Impact Accelerator at the University of Cambridge and the Aviation Environment Federation; and with generous support from the Quadrature Climate Foundation and Breakthrough Energy.

Kelly

Air New Zealand extends free Wi-Fi offer

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Air New Zealand’s complimentary inflight Wi-Fi summer offer to customers has been such a hit the airline is extending it. 

Wi-Fi is now available on 12 international aircraft, including six Boeing 777-200s and four Boeing 777-300s which predominantly fly the airline’s trans-Tasman, US and London routes and two A321neo aircraft which operate Tasman and Pacific Island services. 

Air New Zealand General Manager Customer Experience Anita Hawthorne says more than 80,000 people have connected to complimentary Wi-Fi on international flights since 1 December, which is the equivalent to the population of Palmerston North. 

We’re so pleased with the uptake of our summer Wi-Fi offer and the feedback we’ve received from customers during this period that we’ve decided to extend it until the end of March.

 Standard Wi-Fi on Air New Zealand services is charged at $30 NZD for a full flight to Australia and the Pacific Islands and $40 for the duration of a flight to North America, Europe and Asia destinations.  There is also a 1-hour pass available for $9 on North America, Europe and Asia services.