Article from BTNews 13 JUNE 2016
Business Class boost at JAL
New-style ‘Sky Suite’ Business Class seats are entering service with Japan Airlines this month as the company puts its revamped B777-200ER on the international route between Tokyo and Bangkok on 18 June.
The aircraft will be introduced on the Haneda – Bangkok service in August, with further expansion to transpacific routes to and from Honolulu from next January.
JAL’s Business Class is being retrofitted with the new fully-flat seat Sky Suite III and Premium Economy passengers will have the Sky Premium seat which has already been introduced on other Sky Suite configured aircraft.
Premium Economy and Economy passengers will also have up to 4in more legroom and a 3+4+2 layout for easier aisle and seat access.
The changes mean a reduction in capacity of up to 76 passengers on each B777 but JAL spokesman Jun Kato said a similar programme in 2013 on the airline’s routes between Europe and the US had resulted in more passengers returning to JAL and higher demand.
“We’re just beginning to try to be more visible overseas,” he added. “We are a little late to the market, but we are very focused on expanding not only in Asia but overseas generally and getting the name JAL better known.”
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