Air New Zealand will debut its airline industry-first economy cabin lie-flat sleepers on flights from Auckland to New York JFK in November.
The Economy Skynest, an enclosed pod of six bunks separated into two stacked rows of three, goes on sale May 18. It will be located between the economy and premium economy cabins on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners the airline flies between Auckland and New York.
Once on sale, it will be bookable in two shifts of four hours, with costs from $355.
Other features of Skynest will include stowage space, a charging outlet, ambient lighting designed for rest and wake, a reading light, and an amenity kit. The bunks will also be equipped with their own seat belts and crew call buttons.
Introduction of the product will come more than six years after Air New Zealand first filed the Skynest patent. The airline was also the originator of the economy Skycouch, which converts a regular row of three economy seats into a couch.
In a prepared statement, Air New Zealand CEO Nikhil Ravishankar said Skynest is another example of the airline's innovative spirit.
"New Zealand's unique location means we understand long-haul travel better than anyone," he said. Flight time on the Auckland-New York route is approximately 16 hours.