All Nippon Airways (ANA) has announced plans to overhaul the cabins of its international Boeing 787 fleet, with the project expected to start in 2026. The airline has 35 of these jets, with an additional 27 on order.
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ANA reveals new 787 premium economy & economy
ANA will be partnering with RECARO to introduce new premium economy and economy seats throughout the long haul Boeing 787-9 fleet.
In premium economy, the airline is introducing the Recaro R4 seat model, where seats will be in a 2-3-2 layout, with 40″ of pitch. Seats will feature 9″ of recline (2″ more than currently), and tech will be upgraded, with a 15.6″ entertainment screen, AC, USB-A, and USB-C outlets, bluetooth audio, and more.
In economy, the airline is introducing the Recaro R3 seat model, where seats will be in a 3-3-3 layout, with 33-34″ of pitch. Seats will feature an additional 2″ of recline, and tech will be upgraded, with a 13.3″ entertainment screen, AC, USB-A, and USB-C outlets, bluetooth audio, and more.
As you can tell, ANA continues to have a very generous product across cabins, with among the best seat pitch that you’ll find on any airline. It’s nice to see the airline continuing to stick with that.
ANA also plans new 787 business class
While ANA has so far only revealed the details of the new premium economy and economy, that’s not all that will be changing. As reported by Sean Cudahy, ANA executives have confirmed that the airline also plans to introduce a new business class product on these jets, which will be installed the same time as the other cabins. That’s expected to be formally announced in the coming months.
ANA is of course known for its incredible “The Room” business class, available exclusively on select Boeing 777-300ERs.
However, as it stands, Boeing 787-9s have the Safran SkyLounge III seats, in a staggered configuration. These seats are perfectly comfortable, but hardly cutting edge, especially given that these aircraft operate some really long routes, including to the United States, Europe, etc.
While we should find out in the coming weeks what product ANA will install, it’s always fun to speculate a bit. While ANA states the product will be similar to “The Room,” it won’t be exactly that, since the 787 just doesn’t have the cabin width to make that possible. So, what could the airline install?
All of ANA’s long haul business class seats (on the 777, 787, and A380) are produced in partnership with Safran. So it seems fairly likely that ANA will continue to partner with Safran, since airlines generally like to continue working with the same firms, assuming they’re happy with their existing products.
So my first guess — and again, this is just speculation — is that ANA will introduce the Safran Unity platform on the 787. JAL was the launch customer for this on the A350, so I suppose in a way, it would be a bit odd if ANA copied its most direct competitor. But the product is produced by Safran, it can be installed on the 787, it’s one of the best new “generic” business class products out there, and it has a staggered layout (which ANA seems to like). I could be totally wrong, but that’s what I’d guess.
ANA hasn’t partnered with Collins Aerospace on seats in the past, but otherwise it seems like the Collins Aerospace Horizon Seat would be the most likely option, as you’ll find it on Korean Air’s new 787s. This is also a staggered product.
Bottom line
ANA plans to overhaul its Boeing 787-9 cabins as of 2026, as these planes are used for some of the carrier’s longest routes. The airline has announced the Recaro seats that we’ll find in premium economy and economy, while the new business class is expected to be revealed soon.
It’s great to see that ANA plans to invest in these jets. Now if only ANA could finish reconfiguring its few remaining 777-300ERs flying with old interiors…
What do you make of ANA’s plans to overhaul 787 cabins?
"Safran SkyLounge III seats...are perfectly comfortable"
I would say they're not. They're very hard and uncomfortable to sleep on and the exposure to the aisle and surrounding seats is really annoying, especially on a red-eye.
JAL beats ANA handily here - 8 abreast vs ANA's 9 abreast on the 787 and 9 abreast vs ANA's 10 abreast on the 777.
Seat width is much bigger deal in long haul than pitch. I would happily take a 8 abreast 787 with 32 inch pitch over a 9 abreast 787 with 34in.
Basically it's a bit of lipstick on a pig. I would fly JAL's old 787 product in economy over any 9-abreast 787 economy. It doesn't matter how new the seats are if they're narrow AF and cramped like sardines.
If you look closely at JALs 787 economy product, the seatback padding is much thicker.
And just a reminder that JALs seat pitch in economy is 34" across the board.
So if we're talking about comfort in the back, then the A330/neo would be better than a 787.
Surprised I haven't seen an article yet about ANA getting rid of RTW redemptions and adding one-way ticket bookings
ANA’s 787 interior does not have wow factor. Revamping 787 seats are a welcome news. ANA has 777x on order to replace 777-300ER, which already showing signs of deterioration due to aging even in Room and Suite seats. Room and Suite seats are impressive due to its width. No other aircraft can come close to it. A350 interior will never be that good because it is much narrower than 777-300er. Not to mention that 777x cabin width is 4 inch wider than 777-300ER.
I actually personally don't mind those current seats at all, as it's 1-2-1 with direct aisle access, but I do hope they renovate their designs. The current 787-9 seat looks a bit too sterile with the current color setup. The ROOM has a much nicer wood aesthetic that feels a little more cozy.
I also hope they dedicate themselves to having full fleet consistency with these. The fact that ROOM has been out for over...
I actually personally don't mind those current seats at all, as it's 1-2-1 with direct aisle access, but I do hope they renovate their designs. The current 787-9 seat looks a bit too sterile with the current color setup. The ROOM has a much nicer wood aesthetic that feels a little more cozy.
I also hope they dedicate themselves to having full fleet consistency with these. The fact that ROOM has been out for over 5 years and still there are aircraft without it makes it so annoying having to constantly chase and track tail numbers.
While I agree about the colours on the 787 and even A380 looking a bit sterile, it can be a way for them differentiate their flagship product from everything else. Hopefully, they come up with something appealing if they don't use The Room's finishes and trim.
And as I've mentioned below, I don't think they've reconfigured any aircraft with the new product. My guess would be once the 779 comes in, the youngest 77Ws with...
While I agree about the colours on the 787 and even A380 looking a bit sterile, it can be a way for them differentiate their flagship product from everything else. Hopefully, they come up with something appealing if they don't use The Room's finishes and trim.
And as I've mentioned below, I don't think they've reconfigured any aircraft with the new product. My guess would be once the 779 comes in, the youngest 77Ws with The Room and The Suite will trickle down and replace the older frames with the previous gen product.
They have reconfigured existing 77Ws, but believe 2 or 3 are left w/ IOJ configuration
I stand corrected then. I thought they would just leave them as is until the 779s came in.
Yeah it just feels very odd why they wouldn't just complete their 777 retrofit.
I despise fleet inconsistency since J is all about the hard product for me, such a big difference in seats is annoying.
My guess would be they are weighing their options if it's worth reconfiguring when they go in for a heavy check. Depending on the age of the a/c, it might be more cost effective to simply retire them. And they like everybody else were not expecting prolonged delays with the 77X.
Some comments from ANA were already made at the ITB Berlin in March.
New product, but no facts.
Now it seems to be official and a new Business Class on there big 787 fleet will be a certain thing?
INTERESTING …. why would an airline NOT use such a big stage as ITB to present something cool and something the world would remember of and sort of being burned into any visitors mind (hard drive)?
Instead rumors were going around.
They plan to unveil their new product at the Paris Air Show in June.
Excited to see what they put in for business class. I flew the current 787 offering to Seattle back when they were still handing out Hibiki 17 mini bottles. That was a great flight, despite the 90 minute ground delay for a thunderstorm and then some awful turbulence on the way out of Narita.
I've flown the Safran Unity seat on JAL back in March on the DFW to HND route and then HND to DFW. In terms of the hard product, I'd rate it amongst the best business class seats I've flown, right up there with Qatar Q-Suites. I've never flown "The Room" but I'd be very happy to see this seat installed on the 787 routed between Japan and the United States. There's so much competition to...
I've flown the Safran Unity seat on JAL back in March on the DFW to HND route and then HND to DFW. In terms of the hard product, I'd rate it amongst the best business class seats I've flown, right up there with Qatar Q-Suites. I've never flown "The Room" but I'd be very happy to see this seat installed on the 787 routed between Japan and the United States. There's so much competition to book ANA's The Room and JAL's new A350 with points redemptions from the U.S. given the popularity of travel to Japan. I've seen with JAL that there is limited availability for points redemption from the U.S. on their routes currently serviced by their A350 in comparison to other routes. Hopefully, this move by ANA and JAL's continual deployment of the A350 will increase the supply of potential rewards redemptions inthe premium cabins on these Japanese airlines.
ANA “The Room” is also a Safran manufactured seat, called the “FUSIO.” So the 787 business class will definitely be a cutting-edge Safran seat. Also, side note, but Lufthansa’s new A380 is reported to get Thompson VantageXL seats, but puzzling, Lufthansa will keep its original first class, premium economy, and economy class, albeit they will upgrade the IFE.
I quite like the current LH F on a380, but that IFE is waaaay overdue. So that’s good if they install new ones
E39, we were not that impressed with the LH A380 F cabin, when we walked around it at the Farnborough Air Show some years ago. I would be interested to read what your opinion has been having experienced it?
I quite like it, I’m also not that fond of doors or suites, so that’s probably helps. Suites in business where the cabin is 36 seats yes, but there’s no need for suites in an F cabin of 8 seats where you can’t see each other.
Anyways, I find it very sleek, I like the symphony of beige, white and black lol. I love the suede walls, and the seat is super comfy. Combined...
I quite like it, I’m also not that fond of doors or suites, so that’s probably helps. Suites in business where the cabin is 36 seats yes, but there’s no need for suites in an F cabin of 8 seats where you can’t see each other.
Anyways, I find it very sleek, I like the symphony of beige, white and black lol. I love the suede walls, and the seat is super comfy. Combined with great bedding, it’s some bed! Apart from the IFE I find it to have aged pretty well. You have the privacy shields which is plenty IMO. You can’t see anyone, but there is still that roomy, comfy feeling. And the rose at the seat is a very nice touch. I like the lockers which have plenty of room and can be locked, so no inflight theft! For some reason I also love the design of the little swirly console-panel-thingy where you place your macadamias and champagne. All in all, it’s mostly the relaxed, open atmosphere, but it’s still a sufficiently private and sleek cabin.
Great news, ANA's 787s constitute the majority of their fleet, but have quite average to uncompetitive (B788s with C42Y198 config) seats inside. In some ways ANA is getting a bit of halo effect from their THE Room/Suite B77Ws, so the 787s needed to catch up with them.
I wish ANA would do more differentiation between premium economy and economy. Japanese carriers charge quite a steep price for premium economy but don't offer a lot...
Great news, ANA's 787s constitute the majority of their fleet, but have quite average to uncompetitive (B788s with C42Y198 config) seats inside. In some ways ANA is getting a bit of halo effect from their THE Room/Suite B77Ws, so the 787s needed to catch up with them.
I wish ANA would do more differentiation between premium economy and economy. Japanese carriers charge quite a steep price for premium economy but don't offer a lot of differentiated services. You do get a lounge access, but you'll board at the same time, get the same meal, and applied the same baggage rule, as the economy class.
Also their regional B789s (C40W14Y192, without the cabin crew rest) could get a better configuration, IMO.
I agree with you 100%. I still miss the days when ANA elite flyer could get free upgrade from Y to PY on the day of departure subject to availability. I could always get free upgrade on their flight between NRT and IAD.
Is that no longer a thing? If i recall used to be Gold and up got the day of departure upgrade?
I wonder if they plan to refurbish all 789s or just a select few. I also wonder what their plans are for the 788s as they're getting long in the tooth and some of them still have the last generation cradle seats.
As for the 77Ws, my thinking is they'll leave the old 77Ws as is until the 77Xs come in, and the oldest frames get retired with the latest frames take their place. (I don't even think any 77W was reconfigured with the new product as they're newly delivered)
I’ve been on a ANA 787 in 2023 HND-MUC and was really happy with their C product.
On the other end, I am used to the LH C product, so any airline with a 1-2-1 configuration probably gives me a better feeling…