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Between

business

and economy class there are only a few meters (and a curtain) apart, but they could as well be light years.

On a long flight there is no color between occupying the cabin or the seats closest to the pilot, where

innovation and design have been coming together for years to make the

premium

passenger's journey

much more pleasant.

Until now.

For once, creativity has been put at the service of economy class in the form of

pods or capsules

that house bunk beds.

They are vividly reminiscent of the histrionic Japanese capsule hotels, but at least they allow you to get the horizontal on a long-haul flight.

For at least four hours, Air New Zealand travelers will be able to relax lying down at an altitude of 10,000 metres.

Why four hours?

Because our sleep is divided into cycles of approximately 90 minutes and in this way the traveler will have time to relax, fall asleep and wake up calmly ... before returning to his seat.

The capsules will be aboard its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that will take to the skies in late 2024. Located between the Premium Economy and Economy cabins, they will include a

pillow and bedding

that will be changed between shifts, as well as reading and USB port to charge devices and be entertained.

Each pod contains two triple berths.

Its price has not been announced.

The capsules have capacity for six passengers.

The Skynest are yet another evolution in the New Zealander's quest for greater comfort in the cabin.

The airline operates some of the

longest flights in the world

, such as the 17-hour, 50-minute Auckland-New York scheduled to open in September.

As of 2018, passengers traveling on Air New Zealand have had the option of reserving a row of three seats and sharing a bed on long-haul flights.

The Economy Class Skycouch reclines to a completely flat surface, allowing parents to relax more comfortably and even play with their infants.

Lufthansa introduced something very similar last year with its Sleeper Row that offers passengers a "mattress and blanket with business class quality" for flights of more than eleven hours and always subject to availability just before boarding the plane.

The Skynest berths are the result of

three years of research

by Air New Zealand, a process involving more than 200 customers at Hangar 22, its innovation hub in Auckland.

His main conclusion: the need to be able to sleep on board and to have more space and comfort.

"We are confident that this innovation will be a game changer for the industry and will bring significant improvements to long-haul flights," the company said.

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