In April 2025, All Nippon Airways (ANA) announced plans to overhaul the cabins of its international Boeing 787-9 fleet, with the project expected to start in 2026. The airline has 35 of these jets, with an additional 27 on order.
I want to provide an update, as we have some more details of what we can expect from the new business class product, even though the specific seat hasn’t yet been revealed.
ANA’s 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’s new 787 “The Room FX” business class
ANA is expected to unveil the details of its new 787 business class on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at the Paris Air Show. While exact details remain to be seen, Executive Traveller reports that the product will be marketed as “The Room FX,” and will be developed by Safran.
ANA is of course known for its incredible “The Room” business class, available exclusively on select Boeing 777-300ERs. So it sounds like the new seat will at least draw some design elements from that, though we don’t know what the “FX” stands for.
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. Based on the branding, it sounds like the product will generally be similar to “The Room,” but 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?
We know the airline will work with Safran, which is the same manufacturer it has partnered with for all of its long haul business class seats. 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. Then again, we’re now seeing that in the US as well, with American, United, and Hawaiian, all introducing the same long haul business class seating platform.
In the case of the Unity platform, the seat 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, and will have the name “The Room FX.”
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?
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