Air New Zealand’s first Skycouch and premium economy seats destined for the Boeing factory in Seattle rolled off the production line yesterday. Andrew Gough was the first to cast a critical eye over them
Back in January Air New Zealand previewed three new seat designs to a room full of journalists (see online news January 26). The economy Skycouch, an arrangement of three economy seats that convert into a bed, or rather couch, caused arguably the most sensation for those present in Auckland that day, and news of a lie-flat seat in economy spread fast. Some hailed it as an innovation in economy class seating, while others were more critical (see Focus: Air New Zealand's Skycouch).
But gimmick or not the Skycouch, or Cuddle Class as it later came to be nicknamed, is a reality and Germany’s Recaro is busy putting them into production while Wales-based designer Contour is working hard on the premium economy product. Indeed the first Skycouch seats emerged from a Welsh factory yesterday, and Business Traveller was invited along to ANZ’s London office this morning to see them.
Unfortunately I wasn’t allowed to take pictures of the new seating, with an official launch not for another five months. However, first impressions of both the Skycouch and premium economy seat are that they’re identical in appearance to the Auckland previews. The differences lie in the details, with working tray tables, recline and positions of the IFE and various power ports and audio jacks finalised. After all, these seats have come from the first batch destined for Boeing’s factory in Seattle, where they will be fitted to ANZ’s new fleet of B777-300ERs.
Skycouch and standard economy
At a glance:-
- Pitch: 33”
- Recline: 6”
- Width: 17.1” between arm rests
- Skycouch width: 29”
- Skycouch length: 5’11”
- Connections: USB/110v power (no adaptor)/iPod
- IFE: 10.6” touchscreen AVOD. Angles downwards by 23 degrees
- Pitch: 36”
- Recline: Fixed shell, equivalent to 9”
- Width: 20”, not including extra width of retracted arm rest/tables.
- Connections: USB/110v power (no adaptor)/iPod
- IFE: 10.6” touchscreen AVOD, mounted on moveable bracket
- Width: 22”, 33” at the shoulders
- Recline: Fully-flat
- Bed length: 79.5”
- IFE: 12.6” touchscreen AVOD on a moveable bracket
- Connections: Same as economy and PE