An innovative new cabin at Air New Zealand. And not just at the front.

Most often when a new cabin is presented to you, we focus on business class and first class because this is really where the airlines insist in terms of innovation. And let’s face it, it’s more of a dream than an Economy cabin where 1cm has been saved by putting a thinner seat.

But Air New Zealand has decided to think outside the box and push the logic to the limit by presenting a new cabin withinnovations that concern the economy class as much, if not more, than the front classes.

Air New Zealand’s Business Premier cabin

Depending on the configuration, it will have 22 or 42 seats on the Boeing 787 of the New Zealand airline. It’s a rather classical product but with a nice look, in 1-2-1 herringbone configuration (less pleasant in our opinion than reverse herrigbone…).

Contrary to the current trend,the Business Premier suites will not have a door but only a sliding shield.

And if this seat doesn’t have a door, it’s for a good reason that you’ll discover right away.

Air New Zealand’s Business Premier Luxe cabin

In addition to its Business Premier cabin, Air New Zealand is introducing a Business Premier Luxe. It will consist of 4 or 8 seats per aircraft, therefore on the same model of herringbone seats in 1-2-1.

At first glance, nothing distinguishes this cabin from the Business Premier and yet…

Like the new Air France business class and many others before them that have adopted a feature previously reserved for first class, it is equipped with a sliding door.

It is also equipped with an ottoman to dine face to face with a guest.

Air New Zealand’s Premium Economy Cabin

More classic but just as nice, Air New Zealand’s new Premium Economy will be equipped with ZIM Privacy seats, the same ones that will also be found on Swiss and Lufthansa.

Air New Zealand’s innovative Economy cabin

But it is finally in Economy that Air New Zealand is the most innovative, or rather that it pays more attention than other airlines. Logical: given its location, it operates long-haul flights, on average longer than most airlines, and must think about the comfort of its economy passengers.

In addition to the “classic” seats, there is the airline’s famous Skycouch: seats with more space that join together to form a bed in the width direction.

We finally see the arrival of the Skynest, a module composed of 6 beds that a passenger can rent by the hour for part of the flight and a fraction of the price of business class. A product that we had already announced in the past and that finally sees the day after its release was postponed by the pandemic.

A product which, moreover, could inspire Qantas for its Sunrise Project: the airline has indeed presented its future premium cabins but remains evasive about what it will offer in Economy for these longest flights in the world which will last around 20 hours.

You will notice that almost half of the aircraft is equipped with premium seats, more suitable for very long trips.

A new cabin for which aircraft?

The new cabin will be fitted on all Air New Zealand B787s delivered from 2024. The existing B787s will be retrofitted between 2024 and 2026.

B777s are not concerned.

Bottom line

Air New Zealand introduces an interesting cabin for several reasons.

– A relatively classic business class but with some seats in a premium configuration, certainly more expensive, which are reminiscent of “mini first”. However, we find it difficult to understand the choice of a herringbone configuration less appreciated by passengers.

– But above all a real innovation effort on the Economy cabin, which includes the existing Skycouch and finally integrates the much awaited Sky Nest.

In the end, it’s classic at the front, and innovations that are already known but have finally been commercialized at the rear. What we will retain above all is the idea of the dual business cabin and the desire to really change the lives of economy passengers.