Japan Airlines' A350-900 features new cabin design and seat products

Japan Airlines A350-900 aircraft, which is currently being used on its Tokyo Haneda-Fukuoka route, features a newly designed cabin and new seat products.

The new cabin interior was designed by Tangerine, a UK-based design firm. The company says its brief was to “express the essence of JAL through ‘tradition, innovation, Japanese spirit’ in the design of the new fleet”.

The design consultancy created a design strategy called “Infused Essence”, which seeks to “captures the essence of Japanese culture and identity and embodies it in a contemporary travel experience aimed at Japanese and international passengers”.

Passengers will first be greeted with a red wall when they enter the aircraft, where they will see a gold tsurumaru logo of JAL. The interior uses a red base tone, which is both the airline’s corporate colour and the traditional colour of Japan.

First class

The first class cabin (pictured above) has 12 seats in a 2-2-2 configuration. The seats are designed by Japanese seat supplier Jamco. They have a seat pitch of approximately 53 inches (135cm) and a seat width of around 20 inches (51cm). The electric reclining seats, which JAL says are a first on its domestic routes, also have a massage function. Each seat is equipped with a 15.6-inch personal monitor, which the airline says is the largest for a domestic plane in Japan. There’s also an AC power outlet and USB port available on the centre console to charge devices onboard.

Class J

As for Class J (pictured above), the airline’s domestic business class, there are 94 seats laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration. Designed by German supplier Recaro, the seats have a seat pitch of 38 inches (97cm) and a seat width of around 19 inches (48cm). Each seat has a large cocktail tray, a personal reading light, adjustable leg rest as well as storage space under the 11.6-inch monitor and armrest. The AC power outlet is located on the centre console, while the USB port can be found under the personal monitor.

As we reported in April, this does look more like a premium economy set up with its 2-4-2 configuration.

Economy class

The aircraft has 263 economy class seats in a 3-3-3 configuration, as pictured above. The economy class cabin also features seat products from Recaro, which has a seat pitch of 31 inches (79cm) and a seat width of around 16 to 17 inches (41-44cm). Each economy seat features a 10-inch personal monitor, cup holder, jacket hook and storage area. AC power outlet and USB port are also available.

The in-flight entertainment (IFE) system will feature the latest Hollywood (according to the airline’s official website, Disney’s Aladdin is available now for viewing inflight) and Japanese movies, though there may only be Hollywood or Japanese movies available on the flight depending on the month. There are also 70 TV channels, two live TV channels, 28 audio channels, 48 magazines, and two cameras filming the front view and the wing view. The IFE is available in 11 languages, including Japanese, English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish and Thai. The personal monitors on the aircraft were produced by the US-based supplier Panasonic Avionics Corporation.

Free in-flight wifi service is also provided. Also provided by Panasonic Avionics Corporation, the internet service will be available from the taxiing phase until arrival at the gate.

JAL took delivery of the first of its A350-900 aircraft in June. As mentioned above, the new aircraft has just entered into service on the airline’s domestic Tokyo Haneda-Fukuoka route since September 1 and the flight schedule can be checked here.

JAL will also boost the frequency of this route between October 12 and 26 this year from three daily flights to seven, because the airline has received the second A350-900 aircraft. The proposed flight schedule during this period is shown below:

(*According to the carrier’s website, a Boeing 777-200 will be used on this route on October 12 instead.)

The Japanese carrier has also confirmed that it will deploy the new aircraft on four of the daily flights on the Tokyo Haneda-Sapporo route from October 27 this year, and one of the daily flights on the Tokyo Haneda-Okinawa route from February 1, 2020.

JAL has recently updated its in-flight safety video for the first time in 13 years. The Japanese carrier has also revamped its menu on international flights, and business class passengers travelling on long-haul international routes now get new amenity kits.

Photo credit: Tangerine

jal.co.jp