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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| NZ airline offers beds in economy | NZ airline offers beds in economy |
| (about 15 hours later) | |
| Air New Zealand has unveiled what it calls the first major improvement in economy class travel comfort in 20 years - beds. | Air New Zealand has unveiled what it calls the first major improvement in economy class travel comfort in 20 years - beds. |
| The beds are formed by foot-rests rising to the level of three adjacent seats. A blanket and loose normal-sized pillows complete the arrangement. | The beds are formed by foot-rests rising to the level of three adjacent seats. A blanket and loose normal-sized pillows complete the arrangement. |
| Passengers would need to buy the three seats together. | Passengers would need to buy the three seats together. |
| The passengers would also need to be ready to sleep together in small families or couples. | The passengers would also need to be ready to sleep together in small families or couples. |
| The airline's "Skycouch" follows a wildly successful safety campaign by the company in May 2009, which featured well-formed cabin staff wearing nothing but body paint. | The airline's "Skycouch" follows a wildly successful safety campaign by the company in May 2009, which featured well-formed cabin staff wearing nothing but body paint. |
| Sleeping together | Sleeping together |
| "For those who choose, the days of sitting in economy and yearning to lie down and sleep are gone," chief executive Rob Fyfe told reporters. | "For those who choose, the days of sitting in economy and yearning to lie down and sleep are gone," chief executive Rob Fyfe told reporters. |
| "The dream is now a reality, one that you can even share with a travelling companion - just keep your clothes on, thanks." | "The dream is now a reality, one that you can even share with a travelling companion - just keep your clothes on, thanks." |
| It's a very good initiative for an airline specialising in long-haul flights Simon CalderTravel journalist | It's a very good initiative for an airline specialising in long-haul flights Simon CalderTravel journalist |
| Developed in-house by Air New Zealand (ANZ) designers and engineers, about a quarter of all long-haul economy seats will convert to Skycouches. | Developed in-house by Air New Zealand (ANZ) designers and engineers, about a quarter of all long-haul economy seats will convert to Skycouches. |
| They will take up the first 11 rows in the economy cabin of the airline's new Boeing 777-300 planes. | They will take up the first 11 rows in the economy cabin of the airline's new Boeing 777-300 planes. |
| Passengers will pay the standard economy fare for two seats and receive the middle seat for about half price. | Passengers will pay the standard economy fare for two seats and receive the middle seat for about half price. |
| Presuming it is a couple that buys the seat, the total amounts to about NZ$7,600 ($5,400, £3,335) for a return flight to London. | |
| Single passengers in business class lie-flat seats pay nearly $7,140 for the London flight, and a single premium economy seat that does not recline to a bed costs nearly $4,300. | Single passengers in business class lie-flat seats pay nearly $7,140 for the London flight, and a single premium economy seat that does not recline to a bed costs nearly $4,300. |
| 'Clever design' | 'Clever design' |
| Analysts expect the new seats to be popular. | Analysts expect the new seats to be popular. |
| Passengers will be tempted because of the extra comfort offered at a price that is still much less than beds in business or first class, said travel journalist Simon Calder. | Passengers will be tempted because of the extra comfort offered at a price that is still much less than beds in business or first class, said travel journalist Simon Calder. |
| "It's a very good initiative for an airline specialising in long-haul flights," he told the BBC. | "It's a very good initiative for an airline specialising in long-haul flights," he told the BBC. |
| Aviation analyst David Learmount said the ANZ beds would probably appeal to those who pay extra for premium economy, which offers bigger seats but no bed option. | Aviation analyst David Learmount said the ANZ beds would probably appeal to those who pay extra for premium economy, which offers bigger seats but no bed option. |
| "The clever bit is that, by just redesigning a seat, ANZ can offer whatever people want to buy. They will have to absorb the penalty of slightly heavier, more expensive seats, but the extra revenue should deal with that." | "The clever bit is that, by just redesigning a seat, ANZ can offer whatever people want to buy. They will have to absorb the penalty of slightly heavier, more expensive seats, but the extra revenue should deal with that." |
| ANZ could even look at making some money by licensing their design, Mr Calder said. | ANZ could even look at making some money by licensing their design, Mr Calder said. |
| Air New Zealand was facing bankruptcy in 2001 but was rescued by a deal in which the government bought back 75% of the company - one of the country's re-nationalisations of formerly privatised enterprises. | Air New Zealand was facing bankruptcy in 2001 but was rescued by a deal in which the government bought back 75% of the company - one of the country's re-nationalisations of formerly privatised enterprises. |
| The seats go on sale in April and will gradually be introduced on the 340-seat 777-300s from the end of this year flying between Auckland and London via Los Angeles. | The seats go on sale in April and will gradually be introduced on the 340-seat 777-300s from the end of this year flying between Auckland and London via Los Angeles. |