Air New Zealand's world-first Skynest™ earns global recognition
Selected as one of only 25 winners from over 200 submissions globally, Skynest has been recognised for its groundbreaking approach to long-haul flying, giving Economy and Premium Economy customers the opportunity to lie flat and sleep during their journey.
Air New Zealand Chief Customer Officer Jeremy O'Brien says the airline is very proud to be recognised for the world-first concept.
"Skynest started with a simple challenge to make some of the world's longest journeys better for as many of our customers as possible.
"A good sleep can make a huge difference to how someone feels when they arrive at their destination, so we set about to see what was possible in our Economy cabin to create a new opportunity for customers to lie flat and rest properly.
"Skynest embodies the Kiwi ingenuity at the heart of Air New Zealand where we see a problem and then set to developing a uniquely New Zealand way to solve it. Years of design, testing and innovation have brought an entirely new idea to aviation to life."
"To see it recognised alongside some of the world's most innovative travel experiences is incredibly special, and we can't wait for customers to experience it from December."
Featuring six lie-flat pods, Skynest will debut on Air New Zealand's new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and will initially be available on services between Auckland and New York from December 2026.
Condé Nast Traveller described Skynest as helping to "democratise passenger comfort" and make long-haul rest more accessible.
Key facts: Economy Skynest
- World-first lie-flat sleep pods in the sky for Economy and Premium Economy travellers
- Six individual pods arranged in a bunk-style layout
- Located between Economy and Premium Economy cabins on Boeing 787-9 aircraft
- Four-hour sessions
- Two sessions available per flight (initially)
- Priced from $495 per session
- Available on services from mid-December 2026
About the Economy Skynest experience
Each Skynest session includes:
- A lie-flat sleeping pod with full-length mattress
- Fresh bedding including pillow, sheets and blanket, changed in between sessions
- Privacy curtain and individual gasper vents (air outlets)
- Ambient lighting designed for rest and wake
- Personal stowage and charging (USB-A and USB-C)
- Reading light, crew call button and in-pod seatbelt
- A "Nestcessities" kit including eye mask, ear plugs, socks and Aotea skincare
Learn more about Skynest here.
ENDS
Issued by Air New Zealand Communications
Email: media@airnz.co.nz │ Phone: +64 21 747 320
About Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand's story started in 1940, first taking to the skies between Auckland and Sydney on a flying boat - a Short S30. Known for its warm Kiwi hospitality, today, the airline has operating aircraft ranging from Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A320s to ATRs and Q300s, offering customers comfort in the latest most efficient jets and turboprops. It's a modern fuel-efficient fleet with an average age of 9.9 years. Air New Zealand's global network of passenger and cargo services centres around New Zealand. In 2024, the airline flew more than 16 million passengers. Air New Zealand was named 2025 World's Safest Airline by the Australian rating service AirlineRatings.com, highlighting the airline's laser-focus on safety.
Air New Zealand has a well-connected domestic business, connecting customers and cargo to 20 different regions around New Zealand. Internationally, the airline has direct flights to major cities across Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and North America, and through its strong relationships with alliance partners, offers customers more choice and convenience to connect further afield to hundreds of destinations. Air New Zealand has a particular focus on sustainability and its Sustainability Framework helps guide the airline's efforts in tackling some of New Zealand's and the world's most complex challenges. Airpoints, Air New Zealand's loyalty programme, is seen as the most valuable loyalty programme in New Zealand with more than 4 million members. It allows members to earn Airpoints Dollars™ and Status Points for VIP benefits in the air and on the ground. Air New Zealand aircraft are proudly identified by its distinct tail livery of the Mangōpare, the Māori symbol of the hammerhead shark which represents strength, tenacity, and resilience.
About Star Alliance
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey.
The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United.
Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 16,000 daily flights to almost 1,200 airports in 186 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partners Juneyao Airlines and THAI Smile Airways.
For more information about Air New Zealand visit www.airnewzealand.com and for more information about Star Alliance visit www.staralliance.com