Air New Zealand expects other airlines to be lining up to adopt its new interior design features.Group general manager international airline Ed Sims said Air New Zealand had global patents in place for its ‘skycouch' and ‘spaceseat.'“We
Air New Zealand expects other airlines to be lining up to adopt its new interior design features.
Group general manager international airline Ed Sims said Air New Zealand had global patents in place for its ‘skycouch’ and ‘spaceseat.’
“We believe there is a strong market for the design and structure of these seats and we’ve been working with two different seat manufacturers, Recaro (US) and Contour (Wales) to negotiate a license agreement.”
He said other airlines would be lining up “probably from today.”
“I think a lot of airlines around the world will take a lot of interest – mostly in the premium economy seats. We’ve set out to drive a complete new style of flying.”
While the life cycle of in-flight innovations once had an eight to ten year span, changes now only had about a three to four year window, he said.
“Four years ago, our audio and in-flight entertainment was ground breaking, then having a touch screen and now it’s a new generation of entertainment with iphone applications and food on demand.”
Mr Sims said when Boeing first saw the design, the company said, “that’s the new generation of narrow body business class.”
“For three years a dedicated group of Air New Zealanders, with the assistance of leading industrial designers, international design company IDEO, some of our top kiwi boat builders, Boeing and seat manufacturers, have been focused on creating a new experience that will influence cabin design for the next decade.”
Innovations to increase the comfort on long haul fights were important for Air New Zealand. “We fly on average, 90 minutes longer than any other airline.”
