Air New Zealand has introduced an innovative sleeping pod system aimed at economy passengers on ultra-long-haul flights. This new feature includes lie-flat bunk-style beds on routes between New York and Auckland.
The sleeping pods, named Skynest, offer economy class travelers the opportunity to rest in a lie-flat bed without needing to upgrade to business class. The Skynest consists of six sleeping pods arranged in a bunk-bed configuration, situated between the economy and premium economy sections on Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Each pod is outfitted with a mattress, pillow, blanket, privacy curtains, ambient lighting, and USB charging ports. Additionally, passengers will receive a ‘nestcessities’ kit, which contains earplugs, an eye mask, socks, and Aoeta skincare products.
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Each pod measures approximately 203cm (6.6 feet/80 inches) in length, with a shoulder width of about 64cm (25 inches), tapering to roughly 41cm (16 inches) at the feet, as per the website.
Skynest duration
Passengers can reserve a pod for a four-hour period to lie flat and sleep during long flights that may exceed 17-18 hours.
Only one person is permitted per pod; sharing or ‘double-bunking’ is not allowed. Eating within the pods or bringing children is also prohibited.
No need to set an alarm for your four-hour sleep duration. When your time concludes, the lights inside the pod will automatically illuminate to wake you. If you remain asleep, a crew member will gently rouse you.
Once you exit, the crew requires about 30 minutes to clean and reset the pod, changing the bedsheets and pillow covers, preparing it for the next user.
Skynest price
Skynest is an additional service, necessitating passengers to first purchase a standard economy ticket. The cost for a pod session is expected to be around $495 (approximately ₹47,000). A standard economy ticket on Air New Zealand is around $900 (about ₹84,000).
If you wish to access the Skynest sleeping pod, the total cost will be $1,395 (around ₹1.3 lakh).
“By enabling more people to rest properly on ultra-long-haul flights, it enhances the travel experience to and from New Zealand,” stated Chief Executive Nikhil Ravishankar.
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Who can book Skynest pods?
Skynest is available to economy and premium economy passengers aged 15 years and older.
“You’ll need to enter and exit the nest independently, which may require bending, kneeling, crawling, or climbing. The top and middle nests are elevated, while the bottom nests are at floor level and might be easier to access,” the website notes.
Skynest Launch date
Skynest will be featured on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Bookings are set to begin on May 18, with flights commencing in November 2026.
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(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
First Published: Apr 16, 2026 6:31 PM IST
