Aircraft

Air New Zealand (ANZ) may be looking to have seat-beds in the economy section of its new Boeing 777-300ERs due for delivery late next year.

The Star Alliance carrier's international group general manager Ed Sims told an investor's briefing last week that ANZ's new 777-300ERs might have economy-class seats that can covert into seat-beds, according to news reports in New Zealand.

The seat-beds take-up two economy-class seats and will only be offered to passengers who have an empty seat next to them, add the report. People will be offered the seat-bed upon check-in at a charge of NZ$150 ($112), they say.

An Air New Zealand (ANZ) spokesman would neither confirm nor deny the reports, saying that the carrier is still "in the middle of research and development" for ANZ's new long-haul product.

The new interior cabins and seating will appear in late 2010 when the new 777-300ERs start arriving, he says.

ANZ is also redesigning its aircraft livery, uniforms and "a whole range of other products", he adds, without elaborating.

An official at ANZ's aircraft interiors business, Altitude, confirms they will be making the new interiors for the 777-300ERs but declines to comment, when contacted by ATI.