Air New Zealand is developing an all-new business class seat
By David Flynn, May 14 2018
Behind closed doors and with tightly-sealed lips, Air New Zealand is working on an all-new business class seat to replace its decade-old sleeper.
The seat is expected to crown the pointy end of AirNZ's forthcoming non-stop flights to New York and other far-afield destinations on the Boeing 777X or Airbus A350 from 2022, and would also appear on a refit of the Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.
The Star Alliance member's current business class is facing competition from more modern and generally superior seats flown by competitors such as Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific, among others.
''Whatever you land on is going to be on board an aircraft for a decade plus, so you have to get it right," Air New Zealand's chief marketing and customer officer Mike Tod told the New Zealand Herald. "And part of getting it right involves a little bit of crystal ball gazing. In our case we have to look as far out as 2030.''
''We have been having a bunch of super interesting conversations across different industries around the globe trying to distil down what common themes we need to be thinking about, while at the same time identifying partners who share the same vision for the future of air travel.''
The NZ Herald reports that development of the new business class seat, along with its premium economy and economy counterparts, is being carried out "in a secure building near (the airline's) downtown Auckland headquarters."
"While the airline is not releasing details of the project, the test site has been dubbed 'Hangar 22'' and for the past month a handful of its customers, including some of its most frequent long-haul flyers have started trialling early-stage product development."
Consultants from US design firm IDEO – who shaped the previous generation of seats, including the revolutionary but-since-canned Spaceseat - have also reportedly visited Auckland.
Read more: Air New Zealand's top secret operation to revamp long-haul cabins
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 856
The NZ J class product is very outdated compared with just about everybody. In some ways, it is surprising that NZ didn't do something about it when it introduced the 787.
QF
24 Jan 2016
Total posts 27
The Sky Couch is also found on China Airlines from Taiwan. Seeing as its a much larger airline than NZ I'd put that in the "major airline" category.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
10 Aug 2015
Total posts 79
There's several other airlines that have sky couch or some similar product. Azores airlines? I can't remember the list. Not a huge uptake but there are more airlines with this.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Aug 2011
Total posts 161
ANA is introducing the Skycouch to its A380s and Air Astana has introduced it. However, my hope is NZ doesn't tighten up its PE seat pitch. Plenty of scope for NZ to do something better in J class, perhaps forward facing with sliding doors. The old updated VS herringbone design is very comfortable for sleeping, but not the best in other positions.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Jul 2016
Total posts 109
About time! It will be welcomed upgrade over the coffin class....
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Apr 2017
Total posts 128
I find the current seats to be very good, I just wish the IFE screen was height adjustable, because in their current configuration I can't lie comfortably and watch TV without the screen digging into me.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jan 2015
Total posts 64
Agree. Im ok with the current product but It's time to update especially with a number of airlines moving to the Business suite model.
20 Aug 2012
Total posts 115
Well that’s a tad dramatic. Long overdue for an update. Still disappointed ANZ removed the space seat in PE.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
12 Jul 2016
Total posts 28
best innovation in PE
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Dec 2017
Total posts 19
Not a fan of the angled to the centre seats. I wonder if they will make the next seat less revolutionary than last time?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Feb 2018
Total posts 1
Yes, window seats that face away from the window. It takes an airline to come up with that one!
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
14 Jun 2017
Total posts 36
White leather was a spectacularly poor choice of upholstery. Hopefully they choose that’ll age better.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
12 Jul 2016
Total posts 28
bring back the SPACESEAT - mark 2
15 May 2018
Total posts 1
I would like to see seats that semi recline at various points found that the lie flat bed became uncomfortable after a few hours sleeping
02 Dec 2016
Total posts 92
Seats + bunks. That's what it will be. :)
18 Mar 2016
Total posts 23
WThe current herring bone configuration has turned me off
06 Nov 2017
Total posts 9
have to agree, terrible premium product... from the wine to the food...but most of all is the awful foot well , if you are 6 ft tall and have over size 12 feet ( I'm size 13 ) i wasn't able to fly with legs straight... so I gave up
25 Feb 2017
Total posts 26
These Herring Bone seats are so Last Century. Even Virgin Atlantic the Innovator of this concept have dropped them on New Aircraft order. Also I recall Cathay ripped them out after barely 3 years . When I fly I want to see The Sky not somebody elses Feet.
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