New 777s will introduce premium economy cabin, new first and business class

Japan Airlines later this summer will introduce new 777-300ER aircraft on its transpacific routes, and with them will come new seating options for U.S. customers, including a premium economy class and new first class and business class seating. The new planes will start flying between New York JFK and Tokyo in August, and between San Francisco-Tokyo in September, followed by JAL’s Chicago and Los Angeles routes in 2009. The new premium economy cabin – already offered on JAL flights to London, Frankfurt and Paris – has 46 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration. The cabin is equipped with new-technology shell-shaped seats that recline 120 degrees; they are almost 19 inches wide and have a seat pitch of 38 inches – 20 percent more than regular economy seats. The seats are equipped with a power port, and tray tables are large enough to accommodate a laptop and beverage. Passengers get noise-canceling headphones and a 130-channel on-demand entertainment system. The new Executive Class Seasons cabins have shell seats in a 2-3-2 configuration that recline to 171 degrees, and provide greater width and pitch than the existing business class. Seats come with a 15.4 inch personal video screen, and they provide greater storage space with an expanded center console. The business class cabins will be equipped with a “Sky Gallery” – one wall of the cabin will offer a photographic exhibition that will change over the year; they’ll also have a self-service bar with snacks and beverages. JAL’s new first class cabins have eight JAL Suites that are 20 percent larger than its existing first class Skysleeper Solo seats. The seat reclines into a fully flat bed (in combination with the suite’s ottoman), and partitions around the seat can be raised to ensure privacy