Japan Airlines is preparing a comprehensive business class upgrade on its Boeing 787-9 fleet, covering both existing aircraft and future deliveries.
The initiative will standardise interiors across the 787-9 fleet and introduce a new business class seat, reflecting a broader strategy to maintain competitiveness as peer airlines deploy next-generation premium cabins.
Japan Airlines 787-9 new business class
Japan Airlines has formally announced a partnership with Boeing to upgrade cabin interiors and in-flight connectivity on its 11 in-service Boeing 787-9 aircraft within its international fleet.
The Japanese carrier currently operates a total of 55 Boeing 787 aircraft, consisting of 23 Boeing 787-8s and 22 Boeing 787-9s, and has 10 more Boeing 787-9 aircraft on order.
The retrofit programme is designed to align the interiors of the 11 existing 787-9s with the configuration planned for the 10 upcoming deliveries. This approach ensures that new and retrofitted aircraft share the same cabin layout, materials and onboard technology.
No changes are planned for the Boeing 787-8 fleet, which will retain its current cabin products.
As part of its long-term fleet plan, Japan Airlines intends to transfer roughly half of its Boeing 787-9 aircraft to its low-cost subsidiary, ZIPAIR, as new 787-9s are delivered.
This means that all Boeing 787-9 aircraft remaining with Japan Airlines will feature the updated cabin standard.
Existing business class seats on Boeing 787-9
Japan Airlines currently operates two different business classes on its Boeing 787-9 fleet.
Approximately half of the aircraft are equipped with Apex Suites, marketed as Sky Suite II. These suites are arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration and are widely regarded for their spacious layout, high privacy and overall comfort. Despite the denser configuration, they are often ranked among the world’s top ten business class seats.
The remaining 787-9s feature Safran Aries seats, marketed as Sky Suite III. These are reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 layout. While they provide direct aisle access for every passenger, the seat design is notably narrow compared with reverse herringbone products and is generally viewed as less competitive in terms of comfort.
The coexistence of the two products has resulted in an inconsistent premium experience across routes.
Japan Airlines has not confirmed which business class seat will be installed on the upgraded Boeing 787-9s. The official announcement states that the aircraft will receive the airline’s “latest cabin interior design”.
Japan Airlines’ most recent cabin concept appears on its Airbus A350-1000 fleet, which features the Safran Unity business class seat. While this seat is technically compatible with the Boeing 787 platform, no confirmation has been made that it will be selected for the Dreamliner fleet.
Given the direct involvement of Boeing in the retrofit programme, another plausible option is the Elevate Ascent seat. This reverse herringbone seat with a privacy door is specially designed for the Boeing 787 and offers a more straightforward certification process. Several airlines have already selected the model for similar aircraft, making it a practical candidate.
At this stage, the airline has not disclosed final specifications, and further details are expected as the project progresses.
What do you think should be the design of Japan Airlines’ new business class? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
