(TAN): Long-haul flights in economy class could get more comfortable, courtesy the new sleeping pods – Economy Skynest, introduced by Air New Zealand, reports said.
The airline reportedly filed patent and trademark applications for its six full-length pods that are 22 inches by 78 inches each, as per reports. The six pods will reportedly be spread across three levels of beds, with two beds per level, that will come a pillow, sheets, blanket, earplugs and privacy curtains. Reading lights, USB outlets and in-pod ventilation outlets could subsequently be added, reports said.
So far, passengers flying in economy on long-haul flights have not been able to stretch out and relax. Air New Zealand’s sleeping pods with lie-flat beds resembling a pod hotel design will reportedly change that – they will enable travellers to catch up on their sleep during long journeys.
“We have a tremendous amount of development work underway looking at product innovations we can bring across all cabins of the aircraft. A clear pain point for economy travellers on long-haul flights is the inability to stretch out. The development of the Skynest is a direct response to that challenge,” Air New Zealand Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, Mike Tod, was quoted by Fox News as saying.
However, the airline will not finalise its decision to make the pods available for use until 2021, only after testing them for a year on Auckland-New York operations, which will begin in October 2020, reports said. The Auckland-New York service, with a journey time of around 17 hours 40 minutes, is set to be the world’s longest flight, which will probably make it helpful for passengers to have a bed for some peaceful shut-eye, as per reports.
“The concept is designed as a pod you go to during the flight. You will still have your economy seat separately for the other portion of the flight,” a spokeswoman for Air New Zealand was quoted by The Guardian as saying.
Customers will reportedly be able to book a session in the bed, while the cabin crew would provide new bedding and freshen up the Skynest for each passenger. The cost for using the sleeping pods has not been decided upon, although it would be separate to the cost of buying a seat on the flight, as per reports.
Air New Zealand reportedly said they invested three years in researching and developing the concept, with input from over 200 Auckland area customers.
