“Qantas Airways and Air New Zealand are battling for customers on the coveted transpacific route to New York and are planning new features to make flying more comfortable, including bunk beds and dedicated stretching zones,” said a Bloomberg article.
Next year, Air New Zealand wants to introduce “Skynest Bunks” in economy class. In these, passengers should be able to book four-hour “sleeping blocks”. However, the prices for this have not yet been determined. There is already the possibility of a “Skycouch” – an improvised bed made up of three economy seats.
World’s first direct flights from Sydney to New York
Meanwhile, Qantas wants to add the world’s first direct flights from Sydney to New York and London to its repertoire from 2025. At around 18 hours, the Singapore Airlines connection to New York is currently the longest commercial non-stop direct flight.
Airplanes harmful to the climate
Airplanes are among the most climate-damaging means of transport. The share of the aviation industry in the climate crisis is estimated at around 3.5 percent.
For the Sydney – New York route, Qantas had twelve tailor-made aircraft made. “These will have extra economy class legroom and a ‘wellbeing zone’ where passengers can stretch out or have a water drink,” Bloomberg said.
“A lot of people who travel distances like this want a little more comfort,” Brent Thomas, director of travel agency House of Travel in Christchurch, New Zealand, was quoted as saying by “Bloomberg”.
High demand for air travel
Air New Zealand has been offering the 16-hour direct flight from Auckland (New Zealand) to New York (USA) since September – more efficient aircraft would now make these routes profitable. In addition, there is currently a strong “post-pandemic” demand for air travel – also for this connection.
The great desire to fly is currently also enabling airlines to pass on the increased fuel costs to passengers. According to its association IATA, the aviation industry should return to profitability in 2023 for the first time since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the recovery is progressing differently in individual regions of the world: while the airlines in North America are already in the black this year, IATA in Latin America and Asia is still expecting losses in 2023. Airlines from Europe, on the other hand, are only likely to be in the black. According to the forecast, the airlines from the Middle East will only just make it into the black in 2023.