Unimatrix One

Here are the press releases:

Japanese:
http://press.jal.co.jp/ja/release/202301/007195.html

English:
https://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/202302/007198.html

Although the title of the release says that it's about the "summer schedule," it says that during the "2023 winter season" (does that mean the current winter, or the schedule from late 2023 through early 2024?) the A350-1000 will be JAL's new flagship and will fly JFK-HND. The international cabins will supposedly be refreshed (presumably with new seats).

Within the press release there is a link to a document that details the planned flight frequency by route. What it doesn't show is equipment changes. For example, I discovered today that the DFW route will switch to a 777-300ER in March, but this is not mentioned in the PDF. Interestingly, it appears that F seats on this flight will be sold as J.

CPH-Flyer

I would say the statement is a bit more than just refreshing the cabins.

国際線の客室仕様を一新し、お客さま一人ひとりに寄り添ったこれまでにない新しい体験をご提供できるよう開発を進めております

I know it is just marketing drivel, but at least they are saying new and unique.

JALPak

We will get JAL SKY SUITE NEO which basically is just adding a door to the existing SKY SUITE

CPH-Flyer

We know how NEO seats are well received....

I think they will need something with a bit more optimised layout for the A350.

Unimatrix One

I'm very cynical, so I always assume statements like that are just drivel.

My worry is that JAL will cave to the bean counters and "densify" the Y and PY cabins. Currently JAL offers the most spacious Y and PY seats of any major airline. The 42 inches of pitch in PY is noticeably more comfortable than ANA and other airlines. I don't fly Y, but I have more peace of mind on JAL knowing that if an irrops situation results in me having to get rebooked in Y, I won't be squashed into some horrible 10 abreast 777 with tiny seat pitch for 12 hours.

CPH-Flyer

I don't think anyone has gone to 10 abreast on the A350 yet, I think Airbus has mentioned that they want to resculpt the walls to make it possible, but I think it is more wishful thinking. The A350 is narrower than the 777. But the 34" pitch might get a hit, though the current strategy plan indicate otherwise, but it was made prepandemic.

pesos

Interesting. JAL's intl F has been long overdue for a refresh but I didn't expect this. The current F seat basics are fine but needs improved ife/big screen and some new aesthetics and a bit more privacy a la the Suite.

etiene

There are a couple - French Bee and Corsair - at least, but they're (U)LCCs. Don't think anyone full-service has taken that leap.

CPH-Flyer

I was thinking about French Bee, but I was not sure they were there yet.

But dear me, I consider BA too much of a long haul LCC to fly, I am not sure how I classify French Bee....

etiene

In fairness, BA were at worst a solid middle of the pack on densifying the 777. The unfortunate reality is that the average customer is discerning over exactly one metric: price. Once one airline had taken that leap, it was unfortunately inevitable that most would follow. With the exception of JAL and ANA, I struggle to think of anyone still flying 9-across 777s? [not counting anyone whose densification programme just hasn't completed yet]

Unimatrix One

ANA's newest 777s are 10-across, so they are joining the densification club (though we don't know if/when they will convert the older ones to 10-across).

(When ANA released the marketing video online for their newest 777 cabin, I was amused to see that the Y segment only showed a child in the seat. Presumably because showing an adult would have made it too obvious how tiny the seat was.)

CPH-Flyer

ANA mainly flies 3-4-3 on their 77W. They have a few 2-4-3 version left, but that's the minority. I think SQ is still doing 3-3-3 as well, but I could be wrong.

etiene

Can't see JAL going from 8-across on the 787 (1 below "standard") to 10-across on the A350 (1 above "standard"), but I guess time will tell.

AlwaysAisle

I kind of remember JAL said a similar thing when A350-900 was introduced in domestic operation. I am expecting a similar thing for the international A350-1000. The cabin width of 777 is 19 ft. 3 in., and A350 is 18 ft. 5 in. JAL has their domestic A350-900 with 9 seats across in economy, eight seats across in Class-J, and six seats across for domestic First.

My guess is that international F onboard A350-1000 will be three seats across, whereas A350-1000 will have either 6 F seats or 3 F seats. It will be nice if PY on A350-1000 is going to be 7 seats across, but I do think 8 seats across on A350-1000 PY is a possibility. I am guessing that Y on A350-1000 will be similar to the domestic A350-900. I wonder what JAL is planning for C seats on A350-1000.

P.S. Looking at a seating chart of A350-900, I think another possibility for F in A350-1000 is two rows of window seats and one row on a center seat, with a total of 5 F seats on A350-1000.

Domestic A350-900
Seating chart of domestic A350-900

etiene

18 ft 9 in if these are the New Production Standard [which they presumably are].