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Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced plans to install brand-new seats in every cabin class on its international fleet of 777-300ER aircraft.
The newly-designed seats will debut on the daily service between Tokyo (Narita) and London (Heathrow) from January 2013, and will progressively be expanded to New York (John F Kennedy) and mainly on other long-haul Europe and North America routes in JAL's network.
JAL will start refitting 13 of its flagship 777-300ER aircraft with these seats; 8 in First, 49 in Business, 40 in Premium Economy and 135 in Economy Class. Subsequently, JAL will introduce the latest full-flat Business Class beds on its fleet of 767-300ER, followed by a complete renewal of seats in every other class of travel commencing from the second half of 2013.
A foremost highlight of the renewal is the fully flat beds in Business Class arranged in an innovative layout that offers every customer unobstructed access to the aisles. The improved hardware promises greater privacy, enhanced functionality and a personal TV screen almost twice the size than before, providing customers with a luxurious personal space and ambience akin to a first class experience. Similarly in the latest JAL Premium Economy and Economy Class, customers can expect seats that are a cut above the standards of previous models, and arguably comparable to being upgraded a class ahead.
"Drawing from our customers' feedback, we continue to make earnest efforts in creating services with originality and innovative products that can meet and exceed their expectations," said Takahisa Hatakeyama, Vice President of Product & Service Strategy Development of Japan Airlines. "Extensive research and planning have gone into the selection of these new products, and with the roll-out including other upcoming services, we hope to deliver on our promise to offer our customers excellence in safety and quality, and to express our gratitude for their support as we endeavor to reestablish ourselves as a leading air transport company that can continuously serve the traveling public."
First Class
-- Redesigned to raise the functionality and sense of prestige befitting First Class, while retaining the qualities of the highly-appraised current JAL SUITE seat. -- Personal TV screens enlarged 20% from 19-inch to 23-inch.
Business Class
-- Full, lie-flat seats with expanded seat width -- Unobstructed access to the aisle from every seat -- Greater privacy providing customers a luxurious personal space and ambience akin to First Class -- Enlarged personal TV screen from 15.4-inch to 23-inch (compared to the current JAL SHELL FLAT NEO) - one of the largest screens available in Business Class in the skies today
Premium Economy
-- Retained the fixed-backrest feature for an undisturbed space even when the passenger in front reclines. -- Widened seat pitch by approximately 10 cm (4-inch) for more legroom. -- Enlarged personal TV screen size from 9-inch to 12.1-inch
Economy
-- Widened seat pitch by 5-7 cm (2-3-inch) owing to a slimmer seatback design -- More spacious seat width between the arm-rests, broadened by up to 2 cm (0.8 inch)
© Japan Today
12 Comments
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FightingViking
Copy cats...
...and just how is this bankrupt company going to pay for all this ?
Tom Webb
Remember what happened previously with your "stuck-up nose" attitude. You went bankrupt and robbed the employees' retirement funds. This attitude of we "number 1" will break the airline again.
shashinka
To above posters: Lord forbid, JAL would dare upgrade their amenities to be more competitive and attract new customers while ensuring the retain existing customers who would otherwise jump ship to United, ANA or any other carrier flying trans-pacific routes. For shame. Trying to stay competitive and keep sliding further in to oblivion.
JonathanJo
Anything that gets me more legroom in economy gets my custom. 12 hours with knees pressed hard up against the seat in front is hell.
presto345
?? I don't get it.
JeffLee
Retained the fixed-backrest feature for an undisturbed space even when the passenger in front reclines.
WTF!?! I've had this seat and it was the most uncomfortable I've ever experienced...anywhere! It basically jams your knees into the seat in front of you. Correct me if I'm wrong, but JAL is the only airline that does this. Yes, there IS a reason no one else in the world uses these seats.
theResident
@JeffLee: Once again, you have failed to do your research. Both ANA and Cathay Pacific have fixed back seats in Economy.
theResident
...but I shall back that up but saying those airlines are progressively introducing these seats as airplanes are refurbished or introduced to the fleet to avoid any acidic comments.
JeffLee
Once again, you have failed to do your research
Thanks for that, Resident. I do state "correct me if I'm wrong," so once again you failed to properly understand the context of the statement.
I fly ANA economy regularly and have never had such a seat. They seem to be designed to avoid situations wherein passengers forget to put up their seats down during meals, etc., with the downside being that everyone suffers by having less space. A quintessential - and annoying -- Japanese approach, if you'll allow me to express my opinion.
Serrano
"Economy - widened seat pitch by 5-7 cm, owing to a slimmer seatback design"
This doesn't sound like much of an improvement but it will definitely relieve some discomfort by giving even just 5cm more space between the seat in front and a tall passenger's knees.
"arm-rests, broadened by up to 2 cm"
Ho ho ho! I'll still be jostling for elbow space with the passengers next to me.
theResident
ho ho ho! I'll make sure to fly Business and make sure I'm not sitting next to you!
Wakarimasen
About time they spruced things up a bit.