Air New Zealand takes award lying down
13 May 2011
Air New Zealand’s revolutionary ‘Skycouch’ - the economy seating that folds down into a bed - has won the Aviation category of Condé Nast Traveller’s 2011 Innovation and Design Awards.
The Kiwi design was selected ahead of new First Class A380 cabin designs entered by both Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines.
The Skycouch came into operation earlier this year on flights NZ1 and NZ2 - Air New Zealand’s new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft which fly between Auckland and London, via Los Angeles.
The award is the latest in a string of accolades over the past 12 months which have included Air Transport World ‘Airline of the Year’ in the aviation equivalent of the Oscars.
Innovation & Design
Condé Nast Traveller's Innovation and Design Awards celebrate excellence in travel across 10 categories including aviation, gourmet, culture and retail.
An expert panel developed a short list from all entries, and the winners were chosen by a readers’ vote. The magazine commented that Air New Zealand is "… smoothing the way with its inventive approach to economy seating."
Air New Zealand deputy chief executive Norm Thompson says the latest award reinforces how revolutionary the Skycouch concept is in the commercial aviation sector.
"While airlines have made incremental improvements to their premium cabins over the years, no other airline has put this level of research and development effort into improving the economy flying experience," he said.
Experienced travellers
Condé Nast Traveller’s readers are considered very experienced travellers and Thompson says they would understand how the flexible Skycouch space makes such a difference to long haul economy travel, where most travellers would give anything to be able to lie down for a rest.
"The ability to be able to rest on a sofa-like platform - without the cost of upgrading to a premium cabin - is a huge relief for those travelling on 12 hour legs to Los Angeles and 24 hour journeys to London," he said.
Last year Condé Nast Traveller also voted Air New Zealand 'favourite long-haul leisure airline' because of "excelled food/catering and child-friendliness".
Air NZ's golden year
Last year was a golden one for the airline - as well as the Air Transport World ‘Airline of the Year’ award, it also won two Skytrax accolades and ‘Best Airline’ at the 2010 Which? magazine awards.
In the same Condé Nast list, New Zealand was voted the fifth most popular holiday destination by readers because of its environmental friendliness.
Air New Zealand is New Zealand’s national airline and operates both domestically and in 14 countries worldwide across Asia, North America, Europe, and the Pacific.
More information
2010: A vintage year for Air New Zealand
‘Condé Nast’ award for Air New Zealand
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