Japan’s largest airline, All Nippon Airways, recently announced a complete overhaul of the cabin of its long-haul workhorse, the 777-300ER, the result of a collaboration with Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and British designers Acumen. The redesign includes new seating for all 4 amenities, categories such as new cabin finishes, new amenity kits and more.
As you’d expect for a Japanese airline, ANA is known for its top-notch service and food, however, its First and Business seats started to feel a bit in recent years.
While ANA hasn’t done anything revolutionary here, it looks like a huge improvement over the existing provision and will place them in the most sensible spot of the bunch for premium cabins in particular. Better yet, the first plane will fly with those seats in just a few weeks, starting Aug. 2 on the London-Tokyo Haneda route.
We’re noticing new first-class seats on the airline’s A380 flights to Honolulu, so it’s smart to see more members of ANA’s fleet get a first-class upgrade. These seats, dubbed “The Suite,” were designed to evoke a Japanese luxury hotel. It’s never a bad idea. They also have the world’s first non-public 4K demonstration on an advertising plane.
Business Class turns out to be where we will see the biggest breakthrough, with new “The Room” seats with doors that close and a flexible configuration reminiscent of other top-tier commercial venues, Qatar Airways QSuite.
Premium Economy and Economy take advantage of new seat fabrics and some improved specifications, adding new adjustable headrests and tiered touchscreens. Premium Economy turns out to be a very comfortable option in particular. And even though Economy will be Economy, I’d rather be in the ANA edition than in many others.
The new look of ANA’s economic class.
Finally, if you’re on one of the refurbished aircraft, keep an eye out for Panasonic’s new smoothness in First and Business Class. As part of its recently introduced “wellness” offering, softness accessories are designed to mimic herbal softness and assist passengers. adapt to new time zones, etc.
Overall, a very much in the right direction through All Nippon Airways. Japan Airlines would now have to get creative to keep up.