Air New Zealand will begin selling four-hour slots in lie-flat economy sleeping pods — called "Skynest" — from 18 May, ahead of flights launching in November 2026 on its 17-hour Auckland–New York route. The pods, described by the airline as a world first, consist of six full-length bunk-style berths fitted into the cabin aisle of a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with each session priced at an additional NZ$500–600 (around US$295) on top of a standard seat fare. The launch comes as rival carriers including United Airlines and Qantas also move to introduce enhanced rest options for economy travellers on ultra-long-haul routes, reflecting growing competition to make marathon flights more bearable.