Air New Zealand’s world-first economy bunk-bed seats are to be introduced on ultra-long-haul flights in September next year.
They will cost travellers upwards of $100 New Zealand dollars ($63.6) an hour, the company said.
Dreamliner flights from Auckland to New York and Chicago, both of which have flying times of more than 15 hours, will be the first to have the new cabin class.
Passengers hoping to get some shut-eye in the bunk-bed pods will be able to book a four-hour time slot. This will cost up to $600 New Zealand dollars.
“We're still working through the exact details of the booking process, and we have yet to determine the price. At this stage are looking at about $400 to $600 New Zealand dollars for the four-hour period,” said Leanne Geraghty, chief customer and sales officer at Air New Zealand.
For that price, passengers will be allocated one bed in a six-person pod.
Each bed has a pillow, sheets, blanket, ear plugs, separate reading light, USB charging point and ventilation outlet. The lighting inside the Skynest pods is designed to promote rest, and will gradually brighten at the end of the four-hour period to wake up travellers.
Cabin crew will also be on hand to rouse any passengers who sleep through the subtle lighting change, as they will need to use the short transition period before the next booked time slot to change the bedding and refresh the pods.
“Our 83-year history is marked by a commitment to innovation and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. SkyNest is the latest example, and we're proud to be leading the way with this world-first cabin feature. North America is the perfect market for Skynest, as it has a premium segment that values comfort and sleep during long-haul travel,” said Geraghty.
Economy class passengers happy to pay to sleep in the bunk-bed-style pods will be limited to one four-hour booking per flight. Light sleepers may find they struggle to get some shuteye inside the Skynest, as privacy is only assured via a curtain.
The cabins will be introduced on the airline’s eight new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which are due to arrive in the country from next year.
Air New Zealand unveiled the details of Crystal-Cabin nominated Skynest cabins at Trenz — New Zealand's largest international tourism business event — on Thursday. The airline also showcased its first physical Skynest pod as part of the event.
Greg Foran, chief executive of Air New Zealand, told Trenz attendees “it's good to be back in the black, because we're investing $3.5 billion in new aircraft and retrofitting our fleet over the next five years. This includes eight new 787 Dreamliners as we retire our 777s over time and five extra short haul jets adding more seats on our Tasman and Pacific Island services.
"Our first new 787 is due at the end of next year and will include our innovative Skynest.”
Air New Zealand electric jet to take flight by 2026
Foran also publicly took up the challenge of more climate-friendly flying, introducing plans to put an electric Air New Zealand jet in the sky by 2026.
“The climate crisis is an existential threat to tourism. We need to decarbonise our business as quickly as we can,” he said.
“In 2020, we committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 — we've called it Flight NZ0. It will take every lever we have — including Sustainable Aviation Fuel, flight operation efficiencies and zero emissions aircraft technology. Even before then, expect to see an electric aircraft gracing our skies in 2026 as we begin the journey in earnest.”
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
The view from The National
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
Mountain%20Boy
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The flights
The closest international airport for those travelling from the UAE is Denver, Colorado. British Airways (www.ba.com) flies from the UAE via London from Dh3,700 return, including taxes. From there, transfers can be arranged to the ranch or it’s a seven-hour drive. Alternatively, take an internal flight to the counties of Cody, Casper, or Billings
The stay
Red Reflet offers a series of packages, with prices varying depending on season. All meals and activities are included, with prices starting from US$2,218 (Dh7,150) per person for a minimum stay of three nights, including taxes. For more information, visit red-reflet-ranch.net.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
