Japan Airlines to outfit B787-9 Dreamliners with new Sky Suite offering
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Japan Airlines is introducing a new JAL Sky Suite configuration to its B787-9 Dreamliners that is set to debut on the airline’s Tokyo Narita to Kuala Lumpur route starting at the end of July this year.
The new configuration is part of a wider plan by Japan’s national carrier to outfit its B777-300ER/-200ER, B767-300ER and B787-8/-9 with new Sky Suite layouts, which it has been introducing on select international routes. After Kuala Lumpur, the new B787-9 Dreamliner layout will be progressively introduced onto other international services.
The revised layout will notably be retrofitted with the fully flat JAL Sky Suite III business class seat – the same as its B777-200ER, which first began sporting the seat last June. Meanwhile the business class cabin itself will increase in capacity to 52 seats compared to the 44 with the aircraft’s current layout.
The JAL Sky Suite III seats are laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration (the current layout has seats 2-2-2), providing all passengers with direct aisle access – and offer a maximum bed length of about 78 inches, a width of 21 inches (which can be increased to 29 inches with the armrest is stowed), and a width of 20 inches. Additional features include a 17-inch monitor, a retractable privacy partition, a universal power outlet and a USB port.
Premium economy and economy class, meanwhile, won’t see a capacity change – a notable detail as it means Japan Airlines will be retaining its eight-across configuration in economy. Industry norm is for the B787-9 Dreamliner to be configured with nine-across seating, and Japan Airlines claims it is the only airline to offer eight-abreast in economy on the aircraft.
Seating in premium economy will be the JAL Sky Premium (35 seats in a 2-3-2 layout), which offer about 42 inches of pitch and 19 inches of width. Dividers, a 12.1-inch monitor (10.6 inches for bulkhead seats), a universal power outlet and USB port also feature.
Meanwhile economy class sports the airline’s JAL Sky Wider II seats, which have a pitch of about 33 inches and – due to the eight-across layout – a width of around 19 inches. Seats also have a universal power outlet, USB port and 10.6-inch monitor.
The seating isn’t all that will be changing, though. A new “Magic-VI” in-flight entertainment system with some 300 films will be available, as will in-flight wifi.
Questions & Answers
Q.Which routes will feature the new B787-9 Dreamliner configuration after Kuala Lumpur?
Which routes will feature the new B787-9 Dreamliner configuration after Kuala Lumpur?
After its debut on the Tokyo Narita to Kuala Lumpur route, the new B787-9 Dreamliner layout will be progressively introduced onto other international services. The article does not specify which particular routes will follow next.
Q.How does the new business class capacity compare to the previous layout on the B787-9 Dreamliner?
How does the new business class capacity compare to the previous layout on the B787-9 Dreamliner?
The new configuration increases the business class capacity to 52 seats. This is an increase from the aircraft's current layout, which features 44 business class seats, adding eight more seats.
Q.What distinguishes Japan Airlines' economy class configuration on the B787-9 Dreamliner from the industry standard?
What distinguishes Japan Airlines' economy class configuration on the B787-9 Dreamliner from the industry standard?
Japan Airlines will retain an eight-across configuration in economy class for its B787-9 Dreamliners. This contrasts with the industry norm, where B787-9 Dreamliners are typically configured with nine-across seating.
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