Royal Jordanian is currently undergoing a major expansion, and is also investing a lot in its new passenger experience. This includes the introduction of a new long haul business class seat. The airline has just taken delivery of its very first plane with these new interiors, so I’d like to take a look at what we can expect, and when it’ll be available. I have to say, this plane looks like an exciting new chapter for the Amman-based oneworld carrier.
In this post:
Royal Jordanian’s new reverse herringbone business class
Up until now, Royal Jordanian’s wide body fleet has consisted of seven Boeing 787-8s. On top of that, the airline has six Boeing 787-9s on order, which will essentially double the carrier’s long haul capacity. The first of these planes has just been delivered to the airline, and has the registration code JY-RBA. The new 787-9s feature a total of 312 seats, including 32 business class seats and 280 economy class seats.
This is only one aspect of the carrier’s fleet renewal plan, as the airline is also acquiring new jets from Airbus and Embraer.
Royal Jordanian’s 787-8 passenger experience is pretty lackluster. The airline doesn’t have Wi-Fi on these aircraft, and on top of that, business class consists of Collins Aerospace Diamond seats, in a 2-2-2 configuration. Given some of the long missions the airline flies, that’s not exactly a cutting edge product.
Fortunately all of this is expected to change. Not only is Royal Jordanian introducing a new passenger experience on its newly delivered 787-9s, but the plan is to then bring the 787-8s up to the same standard, through a retrofit program.
Below you can find a picture and video of Royal Jordanian’s new Dreamliner business class cabin.
The first 787-9 has just landed in Amman (AMM), and as of now, the plan is for the plane to enter service as of April 7, 2026 (though I imagine that timeline could slip). Currently, I see the plane scheduled to operate flight RJ111 to London (LHR) as of that date.
This looks like the Collins Aerospace Elements product
Which product has Royal Jordanian selected as its new business class? Obviously it’s a reverse herringbone product, and presumably it’s from Collins Aerospace (which has supplied Royal Jordanian’s premium seats in the past).
This looks to me like the Collins Aerospace Elements product, which is the seating manufacturer’s latest and greatest reverse herringbone seat. This would be the same product you’ll find in Starlux’s A350 business class. The reason I say this is because the way the seat shell curves matches what you’ll find in that product (unless I’m looking at it wrong).
This doesn’t look to me like the Collins Aerospace Super Diamond seat, which is the previous generation reverse herringbone seat from the manufacturer, like you’ll find in Etihad’s A350 business class. That’s because the shell of those seats is a bit boxier.
So yeah, if I’m interpreting this all correctly, this seems to me like the best case scenario in terms of the business class product we could’ve expected from the airline.
Bottom line
Royal Jordanian is planning a major modernization. The airline is taking delivery of lots of new planes, including Boeing 787-9s. The first of these Dreamliners has just been delivered, and features a new business class, which will be installed throughout the Dreamliner fleet.
Based on the information that has been released, I believe Royal Jordanian selected the Collins Aerospace Elements product, which is as good as it gets.
What do you make of Royal Jordanian’s new 787 business class?
Sure beats the old 2x2x2...
If most planes are owned by leasing companies, do the leasing companies have any say on how the planes hard product? Seems like they would want similar hard products to make them easier to re-lease. Or do they only lease the plane w/o cabin interiors.
The lessee pays for the interior the way they wanted. Just have to be returned airworthy.
It depends heavily. Some aircraft are slots owned by the leasing company, i.e. originally ordered by a leasing company like AerCap, and after the secure the slot they find a customer for it. Other times the aircraft is ordered by the airline and sometime between order and delivery they getn a leasing company to do a "sale and lease back", where the leasing company buys the slot and takes the initial capital risk in return...
It depends heavily. Some aircraft are slots owned by the leasing company, i.e. originally ordered by a leasing company like AerCap, and after the secure the slot they find a customer for it. Other times the aircraft is ordered by the airline and sometime between order and delivery they getn a leasing company to do a "sale and lease back", where the leasing company buys the slot and takes the initial capital risk in return for lease payments. This slot is controlled by the airline. Typically, when the slot is already owned by the leasing company, they may have *some* say, though not very much. The only time they would have full say is if they don't secure a customer by the time interior fixings are needing to be ordered, in which case they'll specify a middle of the road config that they think they can sell.
Taking Royal Jordanian in particular, they received seven 787-8s. Three of them (first, sixth and seventh aircraft) were slots originally ordered by Royal Jordanian while the remaining four were slots originally ordered by AerCap, CIT, CIT and AerCap respectively. All four 787-9s should be Royal Jordanian slots.
@Lucky how good is RJ about releasing business class award seats to AAdvantage on their US routes? Might be a good way to get to the Middle East once the current tensions die down.
I am confident this is the Collins elements product. Currently in use on A350s with Starlux and 787s on Etihad. The Starlux is quite heavily customized, the Etihad is just a little customized. This should be extremely similar to the Etihad version, if just a little more "basic".
you've completely missed the first row. zoom in, its got higher walls, so 4 better than J seats...
Think you're looking at the Starlux photo
Oof. Horrible timing for a trip to/through Amman. Not enough shawarma in the world to get me to take that trip these days… Looks nice though.
Bring some baksheesh .
$2 enough?