Japan Airlines Co. bets that double beds in new first class suites will win passengers and prestige, seeking to challenge rival elite airlines in the global race to be the most luxurious carrier in the sky.
The Tokyo-based airline unveiled on Monday new seats from first to economy class for its future flagship long-haul Airbus SE A350-1000 jets, calculating that a premium-heavy configuration will help deliver greater profitability. First and business class account for a quarter of the seats but take up around 60% of the aircraft cabin.
The carrier is bucking the trend of cramming in more seats to meet growing demand for travel. The business cabin will get an increase in seats, though trimmed for first, maintaining the overall density to 239 passengers, slightly less overall than its equivalent Boeing Co. 777 jet in-service.The aircraft’s revamped, and more exclusive, first class features just six enclosed double-bed private suites — instead of the eight on the 777.
First class will come with three seating modes: sofa, seat & single bed, or double bed. The top-of-the-range suites come with ample storage, including a wardrobe, and a 43 inch TV screen. And it will be the first aircraft to have an in-built stereo in the headrest, doing away with headphones in its premium cabin.JAL joins a slate of other international airlines pivoting to first and business suites, adding individual doors for the first time, boosting privacy.
JAL is seeking to reclaim some of the prestige from hometown rival ANA Holdings Inc., whose own first and business class suites unveiled before the pandemic raised the bar in luxury travel. The Japanese airline has delayed the aircraft’s inaugural flight to New York, saying it will operate commercially “before” the end of the year, rather than by November, citing supply-chain disruptions affecting delivery of components.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tesla Revamps Model Y in China, Keeps Starting Price UnchangedTesla Inc. released an updated version of the Model Y in China, with improved configurations and the same starting price, in a push to better compete with local rivals.
Read more »
Sunwing Airlines to fold into WestJet within a yearWestJet and Sunwing together make up 37 per cent of seat capacity on direct flights to sun destinations
Read more »
Ferraris worth nearly $1M seized from Edmonton men linked to Pivot Airlines drug-smuggling scandalTwo Edmonton men at the centre of an international cocaine-trafficking scandal that led to the detainment of a Canadian airline crew in the Dominican Republic last year are back in the spotlight. They're facing numerous charges after police seized a pair of stolen Ferraris worth roughly $1 million.
Read more »
Autonomous Driving Remains a Distant Reality in JapanJapan is pushing for 50 locations with driverless services in place within three years, but fully autonomous vehicles remain nearly nonexistent in the country.
Read more »
Nasdaq Helps Japan Startups Escape Risk-Averse Home MarketDozens of Japanese startups are preparing to list on Nasdaq in the next few years as an unprecedented number of entrepreneurs turn away from an aging, risk-averse home market.
Read more »