Experience the Futuristic Marvels Inside Japan Airlines' Cutting-Edge A350-1000 Aircraft

Japan Airlines (JAL) has recently revealed the interiors of its highly advanced Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, which is set to become the airline's new flagship for international flights after almost two decades. This presents an excellent chance for the airline to enhance its attractiveness to passengers seeking ultimate comfort, especially on long-haul journeys.

JAL has placed an order for 13 spacious widebody planes from Airbus. Originally, these aircraft were intended to begin operating on the Tokyo (Haneda) to New York (JFK) route by late November. However, a supply chain disruption has led to a delay in the delivery of essential components. The statement suggests that the new planes will probably commence their operations before the year ends.

In the meantime, heres a sneak peek at what travelers will get to experience when they finally do board that new A350-1000.

Worlds first headphone-free stereos

Both first- and business-class cabins on the new A350-1000 planes will offer headphone-free stereos.

In a era where amenities such as showers and private suites are widely available in commercial aviation, airlines face the challenge of standing out from their competitors. This often necessitates offering something unique.

JAL has eliminated the need for headsets in the front end of the plane, specifically in both the first- and business-class cabins of the new A350-1000s. They are introducing the "world's first" headphone-free stereo, where passengers can listen to the inflight entertainment system through the built-in headrest speakers.

The technology, developed by Safran, a French aircraft interior designer, in partnership with audio tech company Devialet, was unveiled at last year's Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany.

CNN Travel's Francesca Street attended the event to try out the technology and shared her thoughts: "While not a substitute for the immersive experience provided by noise-canceling headphones, the setup is comfortable and reminiscent of watching a movie on your own couch. It would be ideal for those flying with a companion, as it allows for conversation and interaction while enjoying a movie together."

First-class cabins

Each first-class suite has its own small closet.

Japan Airlines

The flight duration from Haneda to JFK is approximately 13 hours, which is a significant amount of time spent in the air. As a result, passengers who have the means may find themselves enticed by JAL's impressive new first- and business-class suites.

In the first-class cabin, there will be a total of six suites, each equipped with a private sliding door. These suites will be arranged in two rows, with three suites in each row.

We are introducing the latest addition to our collection of luxurious first-class airplane suites: an upgrade.

Privacy and space were prioritized in this design, leading to the removal of overhead compartments on the airline. Instead, each suite offers enhanced storage space and a small closet.

First-class passengers are provided with three seating options within their suites. They can choose between a full sofa, a seat that can be transformed into a single bed, or a full double bed.

Business-class cabins

In terms of dimensions, the height of each suite wall measures approximately 157 centimeters (62 inches). The seat pitch is around 211 centimeters with a width of approximately 123 centimeters. The bed extends to a comfortable length of 203 centimeters, while each monitor boasts a size of 41 inches.

An aerial view of the new business-class seats.

Japan Airlines

JAL 777-300ER jets, which are currently in operation for JAL's long-haul flights, feature 49 business-class seats. However, with the introduction of the new A350-1000, the airline plans to enhance the capacity by adding 5 more seats. These additional seats will be distributed across 14 rows in a 1-2-1 seating arrangement.

JAL emphasizes that despite this increase, they have made ample spacing a priority to guarantee a comfortable and personalized inflight experience. Notable enhancements include the addition of business-class suite doors to enhance privacy and the relocation of overhead storage bins to the window sides, aiming to create a more spacious environment.

The suite walls have a height of around 132 centimeters, while each monitor measures 24 inches. The seats offer a width of about 56 centimeters and a pitch of 130 centimeters. When transformed into a bed, the length is approximately 198 centimeters. According to the airline, specifically designed cushioning structures ensure even distribution of body pressure.

Theres also an electric privacy partition for those traveling with companions and, similar to first-class, additional storage space inside each suite, including a small closet.

Premium and economy cabins

The new JAL premium economy seats have privacy partitions and electronic leg rests.

Japan Airlines

A common question among travelers: is it worth paying the extra for premium economy? Is there really that big of a difference?

JAL is implementing new measures to eliminate the necessity for speculation. One example is the incorporation of spacious dividers between the 24 seats within its premium economy section, designed in a 2-4-2 arrangement.

Moreover, JAL proudly claims to be the pioneer in offering electrically operated reclining functionality in its premium economy class, setting a precedent in the industry.

The seat width in this section is about 48 centimeters, with a pitch of 107 centimeters.

Theres also an electric leg rest that can be adjusted to sit horizontally for extra comfort.

The airline states that the new 4K monitors for entertainment are 16 inches, which is 1.3 times larger than the current model.

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that JAL has consistently won the prestigious "Best Economy Class Airline Seat" award for five consecutive years at the annual Skytrax "World Airline Awards."

The new A350-1000s are a testament to the airline's drive to maintain its winning status. According to JAL, they have made significant enhancements to the legroom and seating to ensure maximum comfort. With each plane housing 155 economy-class seats designed by Recaro, passengers can enjoy a generous width of approximately 46 centimeters, which ranks at the upper end of the industry average. The seat pitch ranges between 84 and 86 centimeters, and they are arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration across 18 rows.

Meanwhile, the 4k inflight monitors in this cabin are 13 inches and have Bluetooth connectivity, allowing passengers to use their own headsets while enjoying the inflight entertainment system.