【Feature】JAL’s New International Airbus A350-1000 – A Closer Look at the ‘Pre-reclined’ Economy Class

Japan Airlines (JAL) has unveiled its new flagship for international routes, the Airbus A350-1000, to the media. This article focuses on the enhanced comfort of the Economy Class.

The Economy Class is arranged in a ‘2-4-2’ configuration with a total of 155 seats, which is 8 more than the current flagship Boeing 777-300ER. The seats are made by Recaro of Germany and are a pre-reclining type with the backrest already reclined by approximately 2.5 cm (compared to the previous model), with further angle adjustment possible. The seat pitch is approximately 84 to 86 cm, with a maximum seat width of about 46 cm. The armrests are of a slim type, making the seat about 2 cm wider in width than before.

The in-flight entertainment (IFE) system is by Panasonic Avionics, featuring a 13-inch monitor with 4K resolution. It also supports Bluetooth connections for passengers’ own wireless headphones.

The Airbus A350-1000 is set to make its debut on the Tokyo/Haneda to New York route on January 24, 2024. Initially, it will be deployed on an every-other-day basis. Two more aircraft are planned to be introduced within the fiscal year, and after the introduction of the second aircraft, the A350-1000 will be used daily on the same route. Following the delivery of the third aircraft, the plane will also be operated on the Tokyo/Haneda to Dallas/Fort Worth route.