Japan Airlines (JAL) has confirmed that its first Boeing B787 Dreamliner aircraft will be delivered on March 25 this year while also revealing that the aircraft will feature on new routes between Tokyo and San Diego as well as Helsinki.
As reported earlier (see story here), the Dreamliner will consist of 144 seats in economy in a 2-4-2 configuration and 42 seats in business class in a 2-2-2 layout.
Previously, it was not clear which of the carrier’s business class seats would be fitted on this aircraft – it has now been confirmed that it will be the Shell Flat Neo seats rolled out back in 2009 (for a Tried and Tested of the seat, click here). These will have a 60.2-inch pitch, a 21.3-inch width – 2 inches wider than the same seats fitted on the carrier’s fleet of B777s – 171 degree recline and a 15.4-inch IFE touchscreen.
Economy class seats will offer a 31.1-inch pitch, 18.5-inch width and a 10.6-inch IFE touch screen.
The carrier’s Dreamliner will be used to launch direct flights to San Diego in December and Helsinki in March 2013; however, a specific timetable has not been finalised for these routes. In addition to these flights, the aircraft will be deployed on JAL’s new service between Tokyo Narita and Boston on April 22 (see story here), followed by flights to Beijing, Moscow, New Delhi (see story here) and Singapore (see story here).
One stand-out feature of JAL’s Dreamliner will be the new inflight entertainment system, Sky Manga, which will incorporate electronic versions of 30 Japanese comics, with English versions planned for release the future.
Otherwise, this aircraft is similar to ANA’s Dreamliner, with electronically dimmable windows, LED atmospheric lighting, higher ceilings and controlled cabin pressure. For more on the technology and features of the Dreamliner, click here for an in-depth report in the Business Traveller Asia-Pacific December 2011 issue.
For more information, visit www.jal.co.jp
Alisha Haridasani
