Japan Airlines has unveiled its long-anticipated new cabins for the A350-1000, including a spacious new business class product with a lot of bells and whistles. We will examine each of the four cabins of service on the JAL A350-1000, but let’s look now at business class.
Japan Airlines A350-1000 Business Class
JAL is updating its longhaul aircraft with 13 A350-100 aircraft, which will gradually replace the 13 777-300ER aircraft that currently serve as the flagship long-haul aircraft. Despite engine delays, deliveries are scheduled to start later this year and will continue through 2028.
The first new route will be to New York JFK, with A350-1000 service operating on alternate days:
- JL6 – Tokyo (HND) – New York (JFK) – dep 11:05AM arr 10:50AM
- JL5 – New York (JFK) – Tokyo (HND) – dep 1:45PM arr 5:15PM+1
JAL is introducing a new first class, business class, premium economy class, and economy class onboard in a very passenger-friendly configuration.
The JAL A350-1000 business class cabin will include 52 enclosed private suites manufactured by French-based Safran.
Key specs include:
- Wall Height – 52 inches
- Seat Pitch – 51 inches
- Seat Width – 22 inches
- Bed Length – 78 inches
- 4K HD Monitor Size – 24 inches
Key features include:
- Lie-flat mode promises “ample space at the foot area” and cushioning structures that “evenly distribute body pressure”
- The headrest also has a reclining function, allowing for the viewing of inflight entertainment while lying down
- Electric privacy partition provides accessible communication with travel companions
- The world’s first headphone-free stereo with built-in headrest speakers, allowing customers to enjoy the inflight entertainment system without using headphones (Bluetooth wireless connectivity will also be available for your own listening devices)
- A wardrobe and storage space for personal belongings inside the suite (there will be no overhead bins in the center of the cabin)
Evolution Or Revolution?
There’s little about this seat that is revolutionary (the headrest speakers being the novelty), but this is a very solid seat and looks to be a very solid upgrade over the APEX suites currently on the 777-300ER. Those APEX suites offer tremendous privacy, but virtually zero personal storage, something I found to be an annoyance when I flew from Tokyo to San Francisco in JAL business class earlier this year.
> Read More: JAL 777-300ER Business Class First Impressions
If you’re thinking that the seat looks familiar, you are thinking correctly: Delta Air Lines has a similar seat on its A350-900 and A330-900neo aircraft in Delta One business class. The Delta seat is manufactured by Thompson Aero, not Saffron, but the design and layout appear quite similar.
The suite looks wonderful and I think it is simply unfair to judge it before trying it. I do have my questions, like how the headrest speakers will work or whether the warm cabins JAL is known for will still be an issue without air vents. But I will reserve that judgment until I try the new product.
And for the record, I do not think “revolution” should be the requirement for whether a new business class product is great or not. A suite should have personal storage, a responsive HD screen, wireless charging, power ports within reach, and most importantly be comfortable in all positions. This new suite seems to check off all those boxes.
Also important is the onbaord food, drinks, service, and amenities. This is an area where JAL has always shined in.
CONCLUSION
While the new A350-1000 business class suite on JAL may not be revolutionary, it looks to be a solid product and also a solid upgrade from the current flagship suite. I look forward to try it. I am skeptical about the headrest speakers, but will reserve judgment for now.
It was surprising that I heard JL and KE were going to get new J products that will start to roll out by the end of this year/next year. Looks like JL is opting for a more conservative approach with J these days being all about doors. Going to be surprised in what KE offers as they consider each other “frenemies” (they work really well together on certain aspects such mileage earnings and even having mixed itinerary transfers, but still consider each other as their largest competitor).
Personally, though, I prefer the Apex suites as my feet are not confined and can toss and turn a bit.
Just a small clarification – Safran is French, not UK-based 😉 Source – I work with them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safran
Thank you! (I blame the JAL press release 😉 )
You’re going good work. It’s a fascinating space to be in.
Headrest speaker sound pollution ? Torture the other passengers with scratchy never-ending buzzing ? Did the “wicked witch” make that decision ? I value JAL’s quiet calm , soon to be disappear and be replaced by a never-ending scratching of fingernails on a blackboard .
JAL formerly had a Tachibana cabin , meaning wisdom flower or wild orange . It was a quiet cabin between first and economy , and could be selected , usually by businessmen or myself ; people who wanted peace and quiet . It was before business class became a thing . The fare was the same as economy . It was usually sparsely occupied , so we could lift up the arm rests and sleep on a night flight . Those were the good old days .
J looks like DL suits, maybe 1” narrower?
But the bigger news is F, with that big bed on lie flat mode, and the PE with a bit more privacy with the “wings” and the 42” (!!!!!!) pitch, which also is industry leading, IIRC
Norse Atlantic despite being a low cost have 43″ pitch in their premium cabin, but certainly 42 is significantly better than most major carriers. I’m surprised they reduced the number of premium seats compared to the 777 and increased economy seat count since premium economy is making good money for a lot of the carriers. Particularly on a long flight like this you’d think they’d do very well selling more PE seats
Ah ok. Also agreed, several airlines have only ~24 seats in PE and I also think that’s too small of a cabin
Agree with you regarding the storage issue. Seems so trivial but annoyed the hell out of me!
BTW… “business class cabin will include 52 enclosed private suites” – the table you posted above says 54. Also interesting they’ve shrunk the premium economy cabin Vs 777, when many other airlines are going in the opposite direction as they are quite lucrative. Also, the speakers in headrests idea sounds terrible – I can’t imagine it being so quiet that no one else would hear it but yourself. For all those who might comment well that’s what ear plugs etc are for. You shouldn’t be forced to have to wear them / headphones to drown out someone else’s noise. Imagine you’re trying to sleep and the person in the next suite is watching an action movie!
I’m not at all sure about how those speakers are going to work out. They seem like they would either end up being too loud and disturbing everyone else or so quiet you can’t really hear them. I truly think JAL would be far better off simply providing a quality pair of noise canceling headsets.
The lack of overhead bin space also seems like a huge failure. I’d bet on that turning into a major pain point.
Why don’t these premium airlines not bother to put air vents? They will install a 24” screen in business class but not include an air vent? Doesn’t make sense.
Flew JAL 2-3 month ago via Tokyo and the warm cabin was actually a plus in my book. Mind you, even in Y their cabins are a lot less dense, so really you dont feel as cramped and in need of fresh / cold air.