The new business class seats, along with innovative economy bunk beds, will make their debut on Air New Zealand flights to New York and Chicago.
In September 2024, Air New Zealand will introduce a radical redesign of its international business class on flights between Auckland and New York as well as Chicago. The transformation will occur when the airline takes delivery of eight brand-new Boeing 787s, each equipped with new suites and seats from front to back.
The highlight of the experience will be the eight private Business Premier Luxe suites, located at the forefront of each business class cabin, with four suites in each row. These luxurious suites will feature a ‘buddy seat,’ allowing companions to join passengers for meals, drinks, or leisure activities. The suites will also be adorned with premium touches, including a Merino wool throw, enhancing the overall travel experience.
In addition to the eight private Business Premier Luxe suites, Air New Zealand will also introduce 42 redesigned Business Premier seats on the same flights. These new seats will feature sliding privacy panels, providing passengers with enhanced personal space and seclusion. The seats will come equipped with a storage cabinet, vanity mirror, and a spacious side shelf for added convenience. Passengers can enjoy wireless device charging and a large 24″ video screen with Bluetooth audio streaming, allowing them to use their own cordless headphones or earbuds for a more personalized entertainment experience.
In contrast to the current 20-year old ‘sleeper shells’ with their narrow confines and steep rake, which can lead to passengers facing each other like commuters on a bus, the new Business Premier seats feature a more conventional layout.
The new Business Premier seats on either side of the plane are angled slightly inwards, providing a view of the window while maintaining proximity to it. The paired middle seats face slightly outwards towards the aisle, but there is a panel that allows passengers in adjacent middle seats to share the experience. The updated Business Premier beds are slightly longer and feature a memory foam mattress and feather pillow for enhanced comfort during sleep. Additionally, the seats can be reclined during taxi, take-off, and landing.
The new Dreamliners will have an increased number of business class seats, specifically optimized for ultra-long haul flights. The elongated two-cabin business class zone will be followed by 52 premium economy seats, a significant increase from the 33-seat count found on the airline’s most recent Dreamliners.
The innovative Skynest sleeping bunks will be located behind the premium economy cabin, providing economy passengers with full-length lie-flat beds. Passengers can book the Skynest for four-hour shifts at an additional cost, estimated to be around NZ$400 to $600, according to Air New Zealand’s Chief Customer and Sales Officer, Leanne Geraghty.
Each of the six Skynest pods will be equipped with a full-size pillow, sheets, and blanket, which will be changed between each booking shift. Passengers will also have access to earplugs, soft LED lighting, USB power, and a ventilation outlet for added comfort during their rest.
In addition to the eight new Dreamliners, Air New Zealand plans to retrofit its existing 14-strong 787 fleet with the new seats, starting from late 2024.
