Lounging on Air

Air New Zealand is to introduce 22 “Skycouches” — formed out of three economy seats abreast that fold out to create a lie-flat space — in the first 11 rows in the economy cabin of the carrier’s new Boeing 777-300 planes. The carrier is calling the “beds” the first major improvement in economy class travel comfort in 20 years. “For those who choose, the days of sitting in economy and yearning to lie down and sleep are gone,” chief executive officer Rob Fyfe said. “The dream is now a reality, one that you can even share with a travelling companion — just keep your clothes on, thanks.” The first routes to offer travellers the Skycouch will be between Auckland and Los Angeles from December 2010 and Auckland and London from April 2011.