Get ready for JAL’s amazing new A350 first, business class

Japan Airlines is readying a late-January debut for its new Airbus A350-1000, with the factory-fresh flagship now taking wing between Tokyo and New York from January 24.

Fitted with fully private suites in both first and business class, the aircraft is the first of an eventual 13 A350-1000s joining the Oneworld member’s fleet to replace its ageing Boeing 777s. A second is set to arrive by the end of March.

January 24 also sees the opening of a First Class Entrance at Tokyo-Haneda Airport, where passengers travelling in first class onboard JAL will be welcomed via an exclusive check-in area, before proceeding through to security and immigration as normal. 

The all-new JAL First Class Entrance.

So what can flyers expect onboard? In Japan Airlines’ words, “cabin interiors that feature new seating in every class, personalised inflight services and an overall quieter ride.”

First class is designed as a private sanctuary above the clouds.

Chief among the new ultra-premium pews are six cream and burgundy first class havens in a 1-1-1 layout, followed by 54 business class berths, each adorned in a grey and burgundy colour scheme. All are enclosed by sliding doors.

First class flyers will be cocooned behind walls up to 1.57m (62”) while business suites are framed by more modest 1.32m (52”) partitions.

JAL's A350 business class cabin.

Something else they both have in common though are in-suite wardrobes and stereo speakers built into the headrests, “allowing customers to enjoy the inflight entertainment system without using headphones;” other high-tech touches include wireless device charging and Bluetooth audio streaming.

Speakers are embedded in the headrest of every seat.

JAL says its A350 cabin will “immerse customers in the elegance of Japanese aesthetics and envelop them in tranquility, providing a serene ambiance that encapsulates the beauty of Japan.”

JAL's new A350 first class suite.

The unique design of the A350 first class suites contains two seats side by side, with one almost twice as wide as the other, at a total of 1.23m (48”). This provides “a choice of three seating modes: Sofa, Seat & Single Bed, or Double Bed...”

JAL's new A350 first class suite.

... with the later achieved by “having all seats transformed into a bed configuration.”

JAL's new A350 first class suite.

In addition to the concealed wardrobe there’s also under-seat bag stowage, as the first class cabin has no overhead luggage bins in order to “create a more open individual atmosphere.”

JAL's new A350 first class suite.

The JAL A350 business class suites are more conventional, although these too have a private wardrobe and cabin bag storage, while the business class cabin has done away with the central overhead storage compartments to make the most of the A350’s spacious room-like interior.

JAL's new A350 business class suite.

There’ll even be pyjamas, but not to keep. JAL will introduce “a rental service for inflight relaxing wear” from Japanese sleep brand Uchino, made of 100% cotton “and characterized by its thin, lightweight, and soft texture, as well as excellent water absorption and insulation properties.”

JAL's new A350 business class suite.

Japan Airlines is also playing the personalisation card, with travellers able to “customize the timing of your inflight course meal service based on your lounge visit before departure and the flight's arrival time.”

In addition, the large 4K video screens (43" in first and 24" in business) “will indicate the times for meal services and lights-out so you can plan ahead,” while a new vegan and vegetarian menu is available for pre-ordering.

Screens in the first class suites will be controlled by a personal tablet.

Passengers in all cabin classes will also be able to set up a playlist of movies, TV shows and music ahead of the flight via the JAL app, and then have this shared to their screen after they board.

JAL is expected to take delivery of its second A350-1000s by March 31, 2024, with seven more due before the end of 2025 and the final four rolling into the hangars by 2028, where they’ll join a crop of mid-sized A350-900s which ply an extensive domestic network.

The business class suite is fitted with ample charging ports.

This 13-strong fleet of A350-1000s will allow Japan Airlines to retire its 13 ageing Boeing 777-300ERs in a 1:1 replacement.

As recently reported, Cathay Pacific has its own all-new 777 business class landing in the second quarter of 2024 (to be followed by new Cathay 777 first class suites in late 2025), while speculation continues to swirl that Singapore Airlines plans to upgrade its long-range A350s with doored business class suites originally intended for the delayed SQ 777-9 fleet.

Additional reporting by Chris Ashton.