Air New Zealand's Skycouch is about to be adapted to make traveling more attractive for parents with small children.
The Skycouch is a row of three economy seats that can be converted into a flatbed-like rest area for couples, and now people with small children.
The airline has announced they've developed a harness that keeps infants safe on the flat Skycouch surface.
Until now infants have had to sit on their parents or guardians' lap when the seatbelt sign was switched on. Now there will be the option of leaving the child lying flat (and hopefully sleeping) whenever this happens.
As well as the new harnessed Skycouch for kids, the airline is also releasing a new infant pod that will keep the smallest of passengers in a tiny pod that can be held and cuddled by whoever is looking after them.
Air New Zealand Customer Experience Manager Anita Hawthorne expects the changes will be popular with traveling families.
"The Skycouch has proven to be a real game changer in the Economy cabin. While we initially marketed it to couples, we quickly found the product suited parents with young families especially well. Parents can relax while their children are able to have their own space and flat area to play without interrupting other passengers."
The new infant services will be rolled out on the airline's Boeing 777 and Dreamliner 787 fleet as soon as the new designs are certified within the next few months.
The Skycouch concept was designed and patented by Air New Zealand so as well as having them on-board their own aircraft, they are able to sell the design to other airlines.
Air New Zealand will be showcasing the new and improved Skycouch to other airlines at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg in April.
Newshub.
