Sydney Airline passengers traveling long distances have become used to an uncomfortable night’s sleep in economy class. A carrier thinks it has the answer.
Air New Zealand plans to introduce pods with flat beds in coaches that passengers can book for a four-hour nap. The pods will initially be installed on direct flights from Auckland to Chicago and New York, which could last up to 17 hours or more.
The carrier is one of many trying to make ultralong-haul flights — which last at least 16 hours without a break — more palatable to wary travelers. Singapore Airlines has completely phased out economy class on some of its routes to the US, while Australia’s Qantas Airways has introduced ambient lighting and variable temperatures to reduce the effects of jet lag on its longest routes.
Airlines were witnessing changes in global travel prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and widespread layoffs across the industry. As borders reopen, airlines hope innovation can win back fliers. Air New Zealand plans to introduce its Skynest bed in 2024, assuming it can overcome major parts supply disruptions.
A challenge for airlines will be persuading people to pay more to use pods at a time when high energy prices are pushing up airfares and inflation is squeezing household budgets. Capacity constraints have also worsened the travel experience for many passengers, with some airlines canceling flights due to staff crunch and long queues to pass through security at airports.
Air New Zealand thinks 8% to 10% of coach passengers in one of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s six bunks will be prepared to pay for a stretch. It is not known exactly how much it will charge those who want to avoid what many call the “cattle class,” but they believe the economics stack up.
“We have reached a point where there is value to both sides,” said Kerry Reeves, Air New Zealand’s head of aircraft programs. “We have an affordable proposition for our customers which is now in the range of ‘yes’ making it viable for us to make money from it.”
Rico Merkert, deputy director of the University of Sydney’s Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, said he was optimistic about demand for the pods despite the risk that cost pressures would strain travel budgets. Flat beds have traditionally been available only in first-class or business-class cabins.
“Once stalled demand subsides, airlines will again have to make flying more attractive and make those ultra long-haul flights as enjoyable as possible,” Mr Merkert said. “I think that would be the extra willingness to pay a little. Extra to get some sleep.”
He said Air New Zealand was responding to rival Qantas’ “Project Sunrise”. Qantas, which began flying nonstop from Western Australia to London in 2017, confirmed an order for 12 Airbus A350s in May, saying it would be able to fly nonstop from Australia. For any other city from 2025.
Air New Zealand plans to locate beds between coach and premium economy, which will result in five fewer coach seats on the plane, Mr Reeves said. The carrier’s designers created additional space by relocating other areas of the cabin, including the galley.
“It doesn’t take a long time to invent the bunk, there are many examples of this in transportation over the centuries,” Mr. Reeves said. “The design challenge was incorporating it into the airplane in an efficient way that didn’t require us to lose a lot of capacity.
Air New Zealand has long sought to build a reputation for innovation. It claims to be the first carrier to boil water onboard and pioneered the use of attention-grabbing comedic safety videos featuring the country’s world champion rugby team and flamboyant 1980s fitness guru Richard Simmons.
As part of its own ultralong-hall strategy, Qantas said it considered bunks before maximizing space around seats in all classes and introducing a wellness zone. The zone, which occupies the space of approximately three rows of economy seats, allows passengers to stretch and rehydrate before returning to their seats. Qantas also changes the frequency of lighting in the cabin in an effort to affect passengers’ circadian rhythms and reduce jet lag.
Qantas currently flies nonstop from the east coast of Australia to cities such as Los Angeles and Dallas, but New York is far away, and a service to London flies from Perth, a city on Australia’s west coast.
“The different airlines are really smart to consider all these options,” said Phil Capps, Qantas’ product and service executive manager.