JAL debuted the Airbus A350 for domestic flights in 2019. The project for the A350 for international flights began about a year prior, in 2018. The cabin specifications for the A350-1000 were developed from a multifaceted perspective, including customer needs, trends, and market trends.
The new guest room specifications were developed with three themes in mind.
Nishigaki: "The new A350-1000 cabin specifications and services are based on three concepts: 'The ultimate in relaxation and comfort', 'Concierge service in the sky', and 'A sustainable experience created together with our customers.'
The renewal of the cabin specifications for international flights, which will involve the introduction of new aircraft, is the first major project in about 20 years. While incorporating these features throughout, rather than simply extending the Sky Suite cabin specifications that JAL has traditionally undertaken, we wanted to create something impressive with an eye toward the next generation. And we wanted to further improve our product appeal."
These are the words of Junta Nishigaki of the Product and Service Development Department, who was in charge of developing the guest room specifications. The project team began by sorting out the issues. They then formulated hypotheses, and spent two years testing and discussing them. The development of guest room specifications begins with communication, where people share their ideas while looking at the future from various perspectives several years down the line.
The first international flight to be built with an Airbus jet. JAL's unique "not in the catalog" attention to detail
Nishigaki: "Until now, JAL has used Boeing aircraft on international routes, but this is the first time we've used Airbus. For example, the overall length of the Boeing 777-300ER and the Airbus A350-1000 are almost the same, but there are differences in the detailed aircraft specifications. The width of the cabin is a little narrower, but the number of doors has been reduced from five to four. Although there are restrictions on the horizontal arrangement of the seats due to the layout, there is more room for ingenuity in terms of seat pitch (front-to-back width) than on previous aircraft. Under these conditions, we aimed to provide a spacious space in all seats."
first class
business class
Premium Economy Class
Economy class
Airbus' development approach also involves working hand in hand with airline customers, and when it comes to new cabin options, the company's stance was, "We want to think together about what JAL would like to incorporate."
The image is for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the actual product.
The image is for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the actual product.
Nishigaki: "There are many things that are unique to JAL. For example, the bar counter in the business class was developed in response to JAL's desire to broaden the range of services and increase flexibility, in anticipation of an increase in the number of customers visiting Japan in the future. The lavatories are one example of this. Warm-water washing toilet seats are a part of Japanese culture, but are a rare feature overseas. On JAL's A350-1000, all toilet seats are equipped with TOTO washlets as standard, which is an original feature for JAL among the same type of aircraft. The person in charge at Airbus also understood the unique tastes of Japanese customers, and enthusiastically responded to our needs, which led to the completion of the design."
In this way, JAL's A350-1000 is filled with attention to detail and originality.
A sophisticated and chic interior that incorporates a "Japanese feel"
This cabin space was planned and developed over a period of five years. When you board the plane from the entrance, the first thing you see is the JAL logo on the maroon wall. Maroon, which gives a chic and calm impression, is the key color of the cabin.
The image is for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the actual product.
"It expresses the globally recognized Japanese aesthetic sense and the JAL brand. I think the interior design of the cabin, including this entrance, will have a sense of unity with the domestic A350-900. We expect the number of passengers transferring between domestic and international flights to increase in the future, so even though the aircraft will change, we wanted passengers to have the high-quality impression that is unique to JAL."
The team's aim will be a success if the cabin space is perceived as dignified and sophisticated, rather than flashy. We deliberately avoided direct expressions of motifs, and instead aimed for a design approach that "hidden" traditional Japanese woven designs and patterns.
Nishigaki: "As with domestic flights, the cabin specifications were created in collaboration with the British company Tangerine. It may seem difficult to share and express a 'Japanese feel' with an overseas company, but Tangerine has a track record of collaborating not only with JAL but also with other Japanese companies, so the exchange went smoothly. We needed to take into account not only the Japanese feel that Japanese people have, but also the Japanese feel that overseas customers expect. In this regard, Tangerine's knowledge and perspective from overseas was helpful."
The team wanted to break away from the stereotypical image of Japan. They aimed to create a sophisticated and chic space that would be globally recognized while still retaining a Japanese feel.
Up to three people can be accommodated. A first-class, completely private room aiming for the highest standards in the industry.
Nishigaki: "We took the latest trends into consideration and incorporated an abundance of the highest quality specifications. The private rooms are modern Japanese style, combining attention to detail and splendor, but we were also conscious of the continuity of the private rooms with the outside. Following the traditional Japanese approach to space, where the inside and outside of the house can be separated by shoji screens, the entire cabin is connected, but privacy is firmly secured. Guests can relax in this sophisticated space."
You can store your luggage under the ottoman.
The biggest feature of the seats is that the number of seats has been reduced from four to three. As a result, the seats are 1.3 times wider. The approximately 123cm seats can seat two people, and three people can be accommodated by using the ottoman in the private compartment. The walls have also been raised by about 35cm to about 157cm. The spacious private compartment has no overhead storage rack, and two pieces of luggage can be stored under the ottoman. This has resulted in a ceiling height of about 237cm, which gives a sense of openness. This is the same height as a room in an apartment building. In the private compartment, there is a mode in which the bed and side seats can be used at the same time, providing a living space with a high degree of freedom.
Additionally, a new feature common to both First Class and Business Class is the incorporation of speakers into the headrests of the seats. These speakers have been specially designed for superior acoustic performance, allowing passengers to enjoy movies and music without headphones.
Luxurious business class with a high level of privacy
The business class, which has more seats than before and is significantly higher quality and more functional than the current model, also has individual compartments. Like first class, the ceiling in the center row does not have overhead bins for luggage, giving the impression of spaciousness.
Nishigaki: "First of all, we focused on the seating arrangement in Business Class, and adopted a new staggered layout. By increasing the width and providing ample seat pitch, we have created a spacious private space for each passenger. In bed mode, the seat behind the seat can be tucked under the side table of the seat in front, making the bed length approximately 198 cm, 10 cm longer than the previous Sky Suite."
In addition, while the current aircraft cabin has hooks for hanging jackets and coats, the new Business Class cabin will have wardrobes with transparent doors, allowing passengers to hang their clothes on hangers and store them until they arrive at their destination.
Nishigaki: "Business class is an area that airlines are focusing on. By incorporating market trends, we have succeeded in raising the quality to the next level."
Premium economy class with a wider range of seating arrangements, almost like a semi-private room
Nishigaki: "Premium Economy Class uses large partitions to greatly improve privacy from the seats next to you. It may feel like a semi-private room. All partitions except for the one between E and F are movable, so if the person next to you is traveling with you, you can open the partition."
The seats are also electrically reclined and the leg rest can be raised up to 90 degrees, allowing you to use the seating area more widely and even sit cross-legged, allowing you to relax and unwind.
Economy class with ample legroom and a standard seat angle
In economy class, a large 40cm x 26cm table is installed, allowing a full-sized tray to be placed stably. Another feature is that the seat angle is one inch more reclined than domestic seats. This reduces the cramped feeling during takeoff and landing, and you should be able to enjoy a relaxing flight without having to recline the seat.
Nishigaki: "We had many discussions with the seat manufacturer to realize this specification, and it took time, but JAL has held the world's highest rating for six consecutive years from Skytrax (a rating agency that evaluates the quality of airlines), so it was essential that we further refine that quality. In addition to the wide space between the seats, we have also installed book holders under the monitors to ensure even more spaciousness."
A new era of shared areas that pursue contactless living
There have been many improvements not only to the seat specifications for each class, but also to the cabin specifications. For example, the lavatories, which are now equipped with washlets as mentioned above, have been made more hygienic in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nishigaki: "Since much of the development period took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, we also pursued contactless cleanliness. In addition to introducing antibacterial treatment and foot pedals, the faucets are sensor-operated for touchless operation. We also considered accessibility by installing Braille information placards. These innovations will enable many people to use the lavatories with greater peace of mind. We also incorporated other contactless aspects. For example, the bar counter available in business class mentioned above now offers more self-service options than ever before."
A new refrigerator has been installed at the bar counter that appears when you open the galley door. Cold drinks and other beverages can be freely obtained at any time, which allows flight attendants to focus on other services. The new cabin specifications, which were developed in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, can be said to be a pursuit of meeting the new standards of travel.
Nishigaki: "Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a period of time when we were unable to travel to Europe, where our manufacturing base is located. However, that did not mean we could allow the level of completion or quality to be compromised. The team worked hard to make up for the disadvantage of not being able to travel in person by increasing the frequency of communication with the local area."
Enjoy your long-haul flight in the new A350-1000 cabin
The resulting A350-1000 cabin specification is a masterpiece that JAL is proud of.
Nishigaki: "I think we achieved our goal. What was important in developing the A350-1000 cabin specifications was to propose a new experience from the customer's perspective, not that of JAL, the provider. I am proud that we have achieved this goal in terms of design, texture, and livability with this cabin specification. However, our team only created a 'box.' The quality of the service we provide is also important, and our challenge going forward is to create an environment in which employees involved with the A350-1000 can devote their full efforts to that end."
Please read the article below to find out more about the new services offered by the A350-1000. The high-quality interior and comfortable seats of the cabin introduced in this article, as well as the high-level combination of in-flight meals, in-flight entertainment, and aircraft equipment, make up the flight experience that JAL, a full-service carrier, offers.
The A350-1000 is JAL's international flight, which has been upgraded from the conventional Sky Suite to a higher level and has high-class specifications even by global standards. From Haneda to New York, it takes about 12 hours and 30 minutes. It's a long flight, but you will have more freedom than ever before. Please enjoy it at your leisure.
*Some content was updated on December 1, 2023.
We'll take you behind the scenes of JAL's work, including inside stories on the introduction of the A350 and the development of in-flight meal menus.
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
