Air New Zealand’s world-first Economy Skynest has been recognised in a list celebrating the most innovative projects shaping the future of travel.
Condé Nast Traveller’s Bright Ideas in Travel list for 2026 selected Skynest as one of only 25 winners from over 200 submissions globally recognising it for its groundbreaking approach to long-haul flying, giving Economy and Premium Economy customers the opportunity to lie flat and sleep during their journey.
“Skynest started with a simple challenge to make some of the world’s longest journeys better for as many of our customers as possible,” Air New Zealand chief customer officer Jeremy O’Brien said. “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 will feature six lie-flat pods and 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.
Skynest is the world’s first lie-flat sleep pods in the sky for Economy and Premium Economy travellers. Travellers can lie down in four-hour sessions with two sessions initially available per flight. Air New Zealand priced Skynest from $495 per session.
Each Skynest session includes a privacy curtain, ambient lighting, personal stowage and charging, reading light, and a kit including eye mask, ear plugs, socks and Aotea skincare.
Travellers can learn more about Skynest on Air New Zealand’s website.
