Air NZ unveils new 'Skycouch' economy seats

Air New Zealand has this morning unveiled a new seat design for its long-haul economy passengers - called the "Skycouch".

The airline today showed off its prototype designs in a full-scale Boeing 777-300 cabin in built near its Auckland corporate headquarters.

Chief executive Rob Fyfe said the new seats would be installed in the first of its new Boeing 777-300ER planes that will arrive in November this year.

"For those who choose, the days of sitting in economy and yearning to lie down and sleep are gone. The dream is now a reality, one that you can even share with a travelling companion - just keep your clothes on thanks!"

The 'Skycouch', is a specially designed row of three seats, engineered to create a "lie-flat, flexible space all the way to the seat-back in front", said Fyfe.

He said this would provide a place for "kids to play, or the holy grail of economy travel - a flat surface for adults to relax and sleep."

Twenty-two sets of the Skycouch seats will be available in the plane, found in the first 11 window rows of the economy class cabin.

For two adults travelling, buying the Skycouch will be based on buying two seats at standard prices with the third seat at approximately half price. Full airfare details will be announced when it goes on sale from late April.

The airline is also changing its food and drinks service throughout the plane.

Fyfe said a customer would soon be able to order steaks from the business premier seats, or a pizza for two in its premium economy.

New oven technology in the aircraft would allow staff to cook food from scratch rather than simply reheating it. A new in-seat ordering service would mean it was "truly the first time real food has been served at 35,000 feet."

The 340 seat 777-300 aircraft will be configured with 246 in Economy (including 66 seats creating 22 Skycouch combinations), 50 in Premium Economy and 44 in Business Premier.

The first routes to offer travellers the new seats will be on selected services between Auckland and Los Angeles from December this year followed by dedicated return services between Auckland and Los Angeles and through to London from April 2011.

Air New Zealand is re-fitting its existing fleet of eight Boeing 777-200s from mid next year. It says all its Asian, North American and UK services should have the new product in 2012.

Category:

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• NZ
• unveils
• new
• 'Skycouch'
• economy
• seats
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• planes
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[wandaslice]

The woman going to sleep looks so happy... i have never seen anyone look that relaxed on a longhaul economy flight ahahha

[Morockiwi98]

Its funny when she orders a can of coke but only gets a small plastic cup!!!

[MrPresidentVirg]

@bored1980 because majority of NZ is Caucasian

[19bootsy68]

@bored1980 Maybe with the cost of the skycouch in real money Air New Zealand might think only cauasians can afford to pay their silly prices...and let me tell you...they are silly prices from what i have seen via The Business Traveller site..but you are right in what you ask, in the UK the P.C. do gooders would of taken B.A. or Virgin to court if they pulled the same kind of stunt.

[bored1980]

Why is everyone caucasian on that video?

[SuperTomy360]

i am going on this to aussie

[almightyseeker]

@Lumanix1

yeah i agree.. such seating design it really ain't butt friendly.. let alone spending 10++ hours on it..

[Lumanix1]

I think this type of seating would be ideal for only short trips, but 4 long international flights it would be a pain in the back and ass. I suggest airlines should put more coushins in their seats, to make us feel welcome, and not over sized flight attendents who think they are hot, by putting on 2kg of fuckin make up

[triggerua]

I wonder how this service is doing..the idea is interesting but to pay an additional 1/2 for the 3rd seat just seems unreal. why would ANZ not just sell all 3 seats at full price. and the meal idea is um..a bit much. Anybody know how well this service is going?

[FredLover243]

@96038542 actually they've had awards for the best airline service in the world