Air New Zealand’s new B787 Dreamliners will offer a new Business Premier Luxe suite, Business Premier seat and the world’s first Skynest; a lie-flat economy class option. The new B787 will be delivered in 2024 with these new cabin designs.
The airline claim it will offer the most choice out of any airline in its three cabins to get the best sleep in the sky.
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran points to the airline’s ambition to create the greatest flying experience and says the new cabin, combined with world-leading Kiwi hospitality, is the winning formula.
“New Zealand’s location puts us in a unique position to lead on the ultra-longhaul travel experience. We have zeroed in on sleep, comfort, and wellness because we know how important it is for our customers to arrive well-rested."
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran
Unique Cabin/Zone on New B787
The eight Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners arriving from 2024 and retrofitted current 787-9 fleet will come in 2 different configurations:
Config 1
- 8 Business Premier Luxe
- 42 Business Premier
- 52 Premium Economy
- 125 Economy
- 6 Skynest Sleep pods (on ultra-long haul)
Config 2
- 4 Business Premier Luxe
- 22 Business Premier
- 33 Premium Economy
- 213 Economy
- 6 Skynest Sleep pods (on ultra-long haul)
Air New Zealand Boeing 787 Dreamliner will offer the following cabin/zone (up to 7 different products):
Business Premier Luxe
All the features of Business Premier with a fully closing door and space for two to dine.
Business Premier
Standard all-aisle access flat bed Business Class.
Premium Economy
Skynest for Economy Passengers
For Economy customers, the Skynest concept, first announced in 2020, will be a world-first.
“We wanted to offer our Economy customers a lie-flat option and that’s how Skynest was born. It’s going to be a real game-changer for the economy travel experience.”
Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty says the cabin’s interior design is inspired by the uniqueness of Aotearoa, from the forest inspired carpet to the seats that draw inspiration from New Zealand’s native bird, the Tui.
Air New Zealand will also offer these Economy products; Economy Skycouch, Economy Stretch and standard Economy seat on the B787 fleet from 2024.
The airline mentioned that the new economy seat is designed with more storage, comfort and space and a 50% bigger screen for entertainment. Connect to Bluetooth audio and pair your device to act as a remote control or second screen.
The airline has also added a Sky Pantry to the Premium Economy and Economy cabins, so customers can stretch their legs, grab a bite to eat and hydrate at their leisure throughout their journey.
Air New Zealand to relaunch 14 international routes in 16 days
Air New Zealand is gearing up for the busiest July in two years with the relaunch of 14 international routes in 16 days.
| Destination | Commencing from | Frequency Jul-Oct |
| Honolulu | 4 July | 3 per week |
| Tahiti | 6 July | 2 per week |
| New Caledonia | 6 July | 2 per week |
| Houston | 7 July | 3 per week |
| Adelaide | 6 July | 3-4 per week |
| Cairns | 5 July | 3 per week |
| Hobart | 7 July | 2 per week |
| Sunshine Coast | 9 July | 2 per week |
| Christchurch | ||
| Gold Coast | 3 July | 4-2 per week |
| Nadi | 5 July | 3-2 per week |
| Wellington | ||
| Nadi | 5 Jul | 3-2 per week |
| Queenstown | ||
| Brisbane | 24 June | 4-3 per week |
| Melbourne | 24 June | 7-6 per week |
| Sydney | 25 June | 9-5 per week |
With these routes back in action, the airline will be operating 60 percent of its international capacity – the most international flying in the last two years.
From 9 July, the airline will have three quarters of its international and domestic routes back up and running with popular destinations like Honolulu, Houston and Tahiti restarting after around 820 days of not operating.
The Boeing 777-300 aircraft will also be back-flying passengers, helping towards the addition of around 40,000 seats per week in July on the international network. Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran says it takes a village to get the airline back up and running and is incredibly proud of the sheer amount of work the team at Air New Zealand has put in to get to this moment.
“To bring one Boeing 777-300 out of storage in Auckland takes around six to eight weeks to get it ready for the skies. We’ve hired or rehired more than 2,000 Air New Zealanders across the business including 150 pilots, more than 500 cabin crew, and 270 airport employees, with another 1100 vacancies to be filled. It’s no easy feat but we’re getting back to where we were so we can give our customers that Air New Zealand service they know and love,” Foran said.
The new 787s arriving in 2024 are the -10 model and I imagine the two configurations refer to the -10 and the retrofitted -9s.Will the returning 777-300ERs get a similar upgrade?
I don’t imagine that she sleep pods could be occupied during takeoff and landing so there must be a cost payable to use them to negate the loss of revenue earning seats. Much like the economy skycouch where you have to pay for all three seats.
The airline only mentioned 787 newly delivered and will be retrofitting. 777-300/ER did not get a mention. Also no details being released yet on the charges using those pods.
Finally, “Business Premier Luxe” for the trans-Pacific flights that is on par with “Mint Studio” for the trans-Atlantic flights.
If either product can find ways to increase the actual seat width to at leaset 22 inches — the cushion between the two armrests, not the inflated figures based on retracted armrests as reported on SeatGuru.com and/or airlines’ own website, it would be perfect.
Or, if ANA can find ways to open up the space above the footrest area by changing how the table and IFE screeen are stowed, it would be even better.
JL, JX, BR, CI, & SQ, what are your answers?
I think those new seats will feature on their brand-new 787-10
Maybe I missed it but so do you stay in the bed thing the whole flight or just book a certain amount of hours? And if the latter, who wakes you up and makes you leave the bed?
Also the person on the floor level can’t be happy about that. And also, you’re so close to others I can’t imagine getting any good sleep (snoring, tossing and turning, etc). It is one of those good in theory things but probably not useful in practice.