IBS Software’s iRetail platform powers Air New Zealand’s Skynest | News
Air New Zealand has engaged IBS Software, a leading travel technology company providing AI-powered travel solutions, to enable the commercial launch of Air New Zealand’s Skynest product, the world’s first sleep pod experience available to Economy and Premium Economy passengers on scheduled long-haul flights.
Skynest will debut on ultra-long-haul services between Auckland and New York later this year and passengers can book the experience for four-hour sessions during the flight. The unique requirements for selling the Skynest product are made possible with iRetail from IBS Software, allowing the airline to digitally sell, book and service an entirely new category of product on board, something legacy airline systems were never designed or able to do.
Air New Zealand has leveraged IBS Software’s Product Catalog and Stock Keeper, modules in iRetail’s Offer-Order-Settle-Deliver (OOSD) suite.
iRetail is partnering with AWS as part of a strategic partnership announced in 2025 and is built on an AI-first, cloud-native architecture. The platform goes beyond the additional services that most airline systems focus on, such as seat selection or extra baggage. It gives airlines the commercial and technical tools to bring new experience-based products to market, increasing customer satisfaction and generating immediate revenue.
Christophe Roux, SVP and Head of Aviation Passenger Solutions, IBS Software, said: “Air New Zealand has consistently led the market in innovation, and partnering with them on Skynest was a natural fit to showcase what IBS Software’s retail platform is really capable of. Skynest is just the beginning. It shows how iRetail is giving airlines the freedom to bring entirely new products to market, products that legacy systems could never support.”
Skynest’s implementation is another example of Air New Zealand’s partnership with IBS Software, which already includes cargo management through iCargo and loyalty management through iLoyal.
Visit www.ibsplc.com to discover how IBS Software’s iRetail platform powers modern airline retail.
