Bunk beds in economy class? The in-flight innovation we've been waiting for

There are no plans, alas, for a comparable service that links the carrier with UK, after the 2019 scrapping of its iconic NZ1 from London Heathrow to Auckland via Los Angeles (previously the world’s longest direct flight, in that it retained its flight code after a stopover) which served British holidaymakers on their way to New Zealand for 37 years.

Sleeping pods in economy have been a long time coming for the aviation industry. Back in 2007 German airline Lufthansa said it was considering the use of triple-decker bunk beds on its Airbus A380, and that results from the survey it conducted on them were “very positive”. 

Around the same time Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said he thought the concept was promising, but Raymond Kollau, founder of Airlinetrends.com, predicted: “It will be a long way before they come to the aircraft cabin. Certification and passenger opposition to being ‘stacked like cattle’ present significant barriers.”

Then, in 2018 at Hamburg’s Aircraft Interiors Expo, Airbus, Europe’s biggest aircraft manufacturer, announced its plans to turn plane cargo holds into sleeping and relaxation compartments for passengers, and at the 2019 event, the designs won a Crystal Cabin Award.

Geoff Pinner, head of cabin and cargo at Airbus, told Telegraph Travel: “Airlines came to us to see how they can better utilise the space in their aircraft. With lower deck use, they can also generate more revenue without having to spend money to change the aircraft or add business-class seats. On a long-haul flight, the airline could potentially rent out each of these spaces to a number of passengers in different time slots throughout the flight. So an economy class offering could potentially come with a sleeping bed add-on.”

Air New Zealand clearly took note, and if its new Skynest proves to a success, other ultra-long-haul carriers could well follow; particularly the likes of Qantas, Australia’s flag carrier, which is aiming to resume plans for its direct London-Sydney ‘Project Sunrise’ flights, tipped for late 2025. Spanning 11,030 miles, it would beat what is currently the world’s longest flight, Singapore Airlines’ regular service between Singapore and New York JFK, which clocks in at 9,537 miles.


Five historic innovations in cabin comfort

Air New Zealand Skycouch 

The carrier’s new ‘Skynest concept’ builds on its ‘Skycouch’ seating format, which was dubbed ‘Cuddle Class’ when it launched in 2011. These specially designed seats include a panel at the front that folds up to a horizontal position to create a sleeping area large enough for two people. Prices vary substantially across routes, but start from about 600NZD (£300).

Sleeper’s Row, Lufthansa

Last year, German carrier Lufthansa rolled out a successful trial of its ‘Sleeper’s Row’ in economy class on selected long-haul flights. This offers passengers an entire row of three or four adjacent seats, along with a comfortable business-class-style mattress topper, full sized pillow and blanket, as well as a special seatbelt allowing them to stay buckled while reclined. The surcharge ranges between €159 to €229 (£135 to £195) and is available on long haul flights of 11 hours or more.

The Booth, Virgin Atlantic

New to Virgin Atlantic as of April 2022, ‘The Booth’ is billed as a new ‘social space’ for Upper Class passengers onboard the carrier’s long-haul widebody Airbus A350s, and has launched on flights between London Heathrow and Orlando, Florida, with more routes to follow. It comprises lounge seating, a table, touch screen monitors which display a digital art gallery and a tail and belly cam of the aircraft; and the space offers a number of experiences for two, including private dining, card games and wine tasting.

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