ANA Unveils Luxe New Business Class

April 2025 is shaping up to be a month of anticipation for aviation aficionados. All Nippon Airways (ANA) has dropped a bombshell, announcing grand plans to give a Cinderella-like transformation to their beloved Boeing 787-9 fleet, with a magical revamp scheduled to start in 2026. With 35 jets already feeling the love, 27 more are eagerly lined up for boarding this grand design journey.

Let’s embark on this update trail to uncover ANA’s secret sauce for their luxurious new business class. However, keep your seat belts fastened, as the full seat design details remain under wraps for now.

ANA’s New 787 Premium Economy & Economy

Teamwork makes the dream work, and ANA is proving this with its new alliance with RECARO to roll out brand-new premium economy and economy seats across its lengthy Boeing 787-9 routes.

In the realm of premium economy, ANA is ready to unveil the snazzy Recaro R4 seat model. Picture this: a comfy 2-3-2 seating layout, 40 inches of delightful legroom, and a leisurely 9 inches of recline (that’s 2 inches more wiggle room than before). Entertainment? Check! A 15.6-inch screen paired with every conceivable gadget charging outlet, from AC to USB-C, and even a pinch of Bluetooth magic.

Dive into economy class, and you’ll find the Recaro R3 seat model reigning supreme. This setup flaunts a 3-3-3 layout, generous 33-34 inches of space to stretch, and an extra 2 inches of recline. Entertainment and connectivity get an upgrade here too, with a 13.3-inch entertainment screen and all the charging glory you could desire.

ANA isn’t just meeting the competition; it’s setting benchmarks in cabin comfort and seat pitch, sticking to its commitment to excellence.

ANA’s New 787 “The Room FX” Business Class

Mark your calendars: on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, ANA will lift the curtain on its new 787 business class at the illustrious Paris Air Show. The buzz? They’re dubbing it “The Room FX”, crafted by the design geniuses at Safran.

If you’re familiar with ANA’s already celebrated “The Room” business class found on select Boeing 777-300ERs, you’re probably expecting something special. However, the suspense is thick as we try to decode what “FX” might entail for the 787.

Current 787-9 passengers might be acquainted with the Safran SkyLounge III seats in a staggered configuration. Those seats are as comfy as your favorite armchair, yet not ground-breaking enough for the airline’s flights covering marathon distances to destinations like the US and Europe.

Speculation is a fun game, and while the specifics remain a mystery, the name seems to promise echoes of “The Room” experience. However, the narrower 787 cabin hints at subtle differences in design. Where could ANA go from here?

Safran, the trusted partner for ANA’s long-haul business class ventures, is again in the mix. If I were to dream (and speculate wildly), ANA might roll out the Safran Unity platform aboard the 787.

Sure, ANA borrowing an idea from JAL’s A350 playbook might seem cheeky, especially since they’re neck-and-neck rivals. But it’s not unheard of; even American, United, and Hawaiian Airlines are dabbling with the same long-haul business class furnishing in the US. The staggered layout Unity offers aligns with ANA’s design ethos. Call me a fortune teller, but that’s where my chips are placed.

Although ANA hasn’t historically collaborated with Collins Aerospace, the Horizon Seat could be another contender, mirroring Korean Air’s swanky new 787s. This route would still keep the staggered layout that ANA covets.

Bottom Line

As the curtain rises on ANA’s Boeing 787-9 transformation in 2026, excitement levels are sky-high. With Recaro seats in premium economy and economy promising more comfort, the anticipation builds for the grand unveiling of “The Room FX”.

ANA’s dedication to fleet investment is clear, but wouldn’t it be grand if they could also sprinkle some of this interior magic on those few remaining 777-300ERs still clinging to outdated interiors?

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So, what do you think of ANA’s bold move to reinvent their 787 cabins?