Japan Airlines (JAL) has taken delivery of its first A350-1000 from Airbus’ delivery center in Toulouse, France. The A350-1000 is set to become the airline’s new international aircraft, initially flying on the prestigious Tokyo Haneda – New York JFK route.
JAL has ordered 31 A350 aircraft, comprising 18 A350-900s and 13 A350-1000s. The carrier has been operating the A350-900 on high-density Japanese domestic routes since 2019. Japan Airlines has a total of 13 A350-1000 on order to replace the B777-300/ER fleet. I toured their new flagship aircraft. Here are real pictures from 4 distinct cabins:
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Japan Airlines A350-1000 First Class Suite
The new seating arrangement features six suites. Seats are designed to provide even greater comfort with individual privacy doors. This is the first time JAL has introduced this feature. Just 3 suites per row in a 1-1-1 configuration, each First Class suite features a double seat and bed.
- Seat Type: Enclosed Private Suite with Door
- Wall height: Approximately 157cm (62 in.)
- Seat Pitch: Approximately 211cm (83 in.)
- Seat Width: Maximum of approximately 123cm (48 in.)
- Bed Length: Maximum of approximately 203cm (80 in.)
- Individual Monitor Size: 43 in.
- Seat Manufacturer: Safran
Choose three seating modes: Sofa, Seat and Single Bed, or Double Bed. Double Bed mode refers to having all seats transformed into a bed configuration.
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JAL A350-1000 Business Class Suite
In Business Class, doors are introduced to ensure privacy. Overhead storage compartments are exclusively positioned on the window side of the aircraft to create an open atmosphere.
- Seat Type: Enclosed Private Suite with Door
- Wall height: Approximately 132cm (52 in.)
- Seat Pitch: Approximately 130cm (51 in.)
- Seat Width: Maximum of approximately 56cm (22 in.)
- Bed Length: Maximum of approximately 198cm (78 in.)
- Individual Monitor Size: 24 in.
- Seat Manufacturer: Safran
JAL A350-1000 Premium Economy Class
The Premium Economy cabin features large partitions to improve privacy significantly. It is also the first Premium Economy Class in the world to introduce electrically operated recline functionality.
- Seat Type: Fixed-back mechanism
- Seat Pitch: Approximately 107cm (42 in.)
- Seat Width: Maximum of approximately 48cm (19 in.) *Excludes some seats
- Individual Monitor Size: 16 in.
- Seat Manufacturer: Safran
JAL A350-1000 Economy Class
JAL A350-1000 has one of the most spacious legrooms in Economy Class (33-34 inches pitch) and updated seating for enhanced comfort.
- Seat Type: Reclining mechanism
- Seat Pitch: Approximately 84-86cm (33-34 in.)
- Seat Width: Approximately 46cm (18 in.)
- Individual Monitor Size: 13 in.
- Seat Manufacturer: RECARO
Japan Airlines A350-1000 will be operating between Tokyo (Haneda) – New York (JFK) from January 24, 2024.
I have a question about the back cabin in economy. There are two seats at the back anatomical left side of the plane, do those seats have a wall directly behind them or is there space to recline?
Thanks Sam,
A nice preview of a fantastic variation. I can’t wait for there to be a flight from LAX, but I really would like a yoke in the cockpit. Since I flew on the first Airbus A300 in 1974 I thought it was an incredible simulation of a Boeing airplane. Interestingly it had a yoke, after that Airbus changed from pilots to sysops to fly their planes.
Ric
Nice wrap, Sam. Thanks for the sneak peek.
Are there any data from airlines industry analysts showing which would have significantly lower costs for the airlines?
— Providing unlimited Wi-Fi internet accesses to all onboard passengers, in which each passenger shall bring his/her own device to enjoy his/her entertainments, with his/her own headphone.
or
— The current IFE systems, both hardwares & softwares all inclusive.
Updating my complaints against the entire airlines industry in term of the hardware seat products (last posted on April 30, 2023 as a reply to Sam’s review of JX):
I miss the old business class seats of BR — its version of B/E Aerospace (now Collins Aerospace) MiniPod. With width of 22 inches (measurement between two armrests) & pitch of 61 inches, I actually enjoyed much more 3-dimensional personal space than most of today’s cramped business class seats.
Nowaday, the staggered business class seats, the herringbone business class seats, & the reverse harringbone business class seats, have average width of 20~21 inches & average pitch of 44~45 inches (excluding the tiny footstall).
In comparison, I might even be more comfortable in a premium economy seat with average width of 19+ inches and average pitch of 38~40 inches, especially when NH and JL also provide airport lounge access to premium ecoomy passengers (not the case for JX & BR & CI). One cannot help but wonder what’s the point? The lots of extra money and/or mileages paid are not proportional to the tiny extra 3-dimensional personal space gained (sometimes even lost).
Besides, I can never lie flat & sleep anywhere unless I am in my own home or in a hotel room, behind locked door. However, I have no problem taking power-naps while seating.
The only current business class seats that are worth the money are NH’s The Room (its version of Safran Fusio) & B6’s Mint Studio (first row only). JL’s new business class seats on A350-1000 look promising.
As for the first class seats, only SQ’s suite on A380-800 & EK’s new suite on 777-300ER are worth the hypes. JL’s new first calss seats on A350-1000 look promissing, too.
Excellent points on business versus pe seating. Recently flew cx business inside asia which was old fashioned 2-2-2 recliners, not the cramped lie flat seats with tiny feet areas.
what a stupid comments, there is a progress in travel – be happy – Merry Christmas
Japan airline the food is bad.food is 1 star need to improve it
JAL seats, reliability and service are 5 star in all cabins. Its food and IFE are 3 star at best. It’s an easy fix but JAL is stubborn.
Don’t want some idiot blasting those speakers when everyone else is trying to sleep: bad idea and I won’t be paying for that, ever.
Totally agree – imagine it – a brawl erupting