Focus on In-Flight Wellness Lifts Air New Zealand Even Higher
By Mark Sissons
Air New Zealand’s Business Premier seat
As top tier airlines compete for best in class business class rankings, many are focusing on in-flight wellness on nonstop, long-haul flights. From lighter, healthier fare and more sumptuous bedding to inflight exercise videos and yoga and meditation apps, the emphasis is increasingly on ensuring that you arrive feeling more relaxed and refreshed, ready to tackle what awaits you.
Recently awarded 2020 airline of the year for a record-breaking sixth time by an esteemed panel of judges at airlineratings.com, Air New Zealand is clearly on the vanguard of this growing trend.
The airline has teamed up with group fitness experts, Les Mills, to create a series of in-flight wellness exercises specifically designed to help passengers relax and keep their bodies in shape during long flights. Featuring top Les Mills instructors, the wellness segments are free to all customers as part of Air New Zealand’s inflight entertainment platform, with adaptations for Economy and Business Premier seats.
On the food front, Air New Zealand’s already mouth-watering menu full of fresh and innovative creations by world-renowned Kiwi chef, Peter Gordon, now includes additional healthy culinary options like apple, banana and buckwheat pancakes, superfood salads, cold-pressed juices and antioxidant smoothies.
And when it’s time for some rest, Business Premier customers can now enjoy an even better night’s sleep. As any turbulence tested sky warrior can attest, getting some decent shut-eye at 40,000 feet can be challenging on even the smoothest of red-eye flights. On Air New Zealand’s fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, Business Premier passengers can stretch out on newly designed lie-flat beds complete with thick memory foam mattresses and cozy duvets. Business Class passengers on the carrier’s Auckland–Chicago–Auckland sectors can also now benefit from the same NASA technology that ensures that astronauts enjoy improved comfort in space.
Coated with Outlast®, a material first developed for use in space gloves to protect against extreme temperature fluctuations and keep hands cool, Air New Zealand’s new German-engineered temperature regulating NASA pillows absorb heat as the skin gets hot and release it as the skin cools.
According to Air New Zealand’s Senior Customer Experience Manager Niki Chave, they are the latest example of how the airline is always looking at innovative ways to enhance the customer experience. "We know quality sleep is important to our passengers, particularly those travelling in Business Premier on our long-haul routes. This pillow allows passengers to lay on the side that regulates their temperature or sleep on the regular side, which ultimately gives them more control over their environment."
Along with new space age pillows, Air New Zealand is also introducing another innovative sleep enhancement. The airline has also teamed up with innovative footwear brand AllbirdsÆ to create an intelligently designed eye mask that helps its passengers sleep better and wake up refreshed.
Like Allbirds' revolutionary footwear, its ultra-soft mask is made from sustainable, ZQ-certified New Zealand merino wool and castor bean oil-based foam. Dubbed 'the Bird Mask,' this luxurious and sustainable travel companion is designed to be used repeatedly. Moulded eye indentations allow for natural eye movement, while the birdlike beak lies against the face to completely block out light.
Allbirds' revolutionary ultra-soft mask
Air New Zealand collaborated with Allbirds to design the mask, including conducting onboard wear trials to provide feedback throughout its development. According to Air New Zealand Chief Marketing & Customer Officer Mike Tod, there is a natural alignment between the two brands, which are well-known for showcasing New Zealand to the world. "Like Air New Zealand, Allbirds punches above its weight and has truly made a name for itself as a disruptor in the footwear industry. Both brands are also famous for comfort. Allbirds produces the world’s most comfortable shoes while we’re proud to offer our customers the best sleep in the sky.”
Air New Zealand’s pioneering pillow and cool new bird mask are now available exclusively in its Business Premier cabin on selected North American routes, and on daily service between Los Angeles and London. Together with the carrier’s other new inflight wellness enhancements, they are making it harder to argue with the newly-crowned world’s best airline’s slogan: “a better way to fly.”
More Air New Zealand inflight-wellbeing tips.