Air New Zealand’s Skynest has made Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s list of one of 25 Bright Ideas in Travel for 2026, ahead of the product’s launch in Dec.
The list, from 200 submissions globally, celebrates the most innovative projects shaping the future of travel.
NZ says Skynest was ‘recognised for its groundbreaking approach to long-haul flying, giving economy and premium economy passengers the opportunity to lie flat and sleep during their journey’.
NZ’s chief customer officer Jeremy O’Brien says seeing the world-first concept recognised alongside some of the world’s most innovative travel experiences is ‘incredibly special’. “Skynest started with a simple challenge to make some of the world’s longest journeys better for as many of our customers as possible,’’ he adds.
The four-hour sessions will cost $495 and the six lie-flat pods will debut on NZ’s new 787-9 aircraft from Dec, initially on its services between Auckland and New York.
. . . Spreading Comfort
Condé Nast Traveler describes Skynest as helping to make passenger comfort and long-haul rest more accessible to travellers.
Skycouch and Skynest are ‘comparatively affordable products’ that are ‘democratising comfort for long haul travellers beyond business class’, it adds.
. . . Other Winners
Among other ideas recognised are Timeshifter, a science-backed jet-lag app; Etihad Rail, the UAE’s first passenger train connecting 11 cities; Viking Libra the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship; AmaWaterways’ new Colombia cruises; Auckland’s Tamaki Taiao alliance to regenerate the urban landscape; Uganda’s SS Sign Language Tourism for deaf travellers; Ponant and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s industry-first partnership combining polar travel with ‘ground-breaking’ ocean research; and The Passport Index, a free platform helping travellers navigate visa requirements.
Others in the list include Relais & Châteaux and UNESCO’s eco-forward dining, which supports local culinary culture; the Tasmanian Walking Company’s indigenous-led walking tour; the European Sleeper overnight service between Brussels and Berlin; and American Airlines’ industry-first investment in sustainable aviation fuel. Greenland’s 10-year strategy setting a new standard for sustainable tourism regulation also made the list.
