While most airlines focus on putting more passengers in less space, Japan’s biggest airlines are heading in other directions, at least in business class. All Nippon Airways (ANA) has officially unveiled The Room FX, the next-generation business class seating scheduled to debut in the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Fleet in 2026.
The new seating debuted in 2019 with the Boeing 777-300ers and is considered one of the best business class products in the world, so it is built on the success of the room (FX represents future experience). However, this new iteration places a clear emphasis on sofa style layout, enhanced technology, and spaces relating to apertures in more seats.
ANA touts the FX in the room as “the largest seat in the world in the class of medium aircraft.” Each sheet is the widest 41.5 inches, with a total layer length of 76.5 inches. What is particularly noteworthy about the seats is that they don’t recline into the bed, like most lie flat business class seats. Here, the backrest has been re-employed beforehand (similar to Finnair’s business class). The airline says, “passengers can relax in a variety of positions, similar to relaxing on the sofa in the living room.” An adjustable leg rest pops up, turning your seat into a bed.
The 787S is equipped with 48 The Room FX suites, located in a one-to-two configuration, spreading across two cabins, with seats alternating between the front and rear.
“This design optimizes the Boeing 787’s cabin, creating a spatial experience comparable to a larger aircraft, achieving world-class comfort levels,” Anna said in a press release.
If other airlines could pack 30 business class seats between the first and second set of Dreamliner cabin doors, Ana has limited that number to 24 for each cabin. By doing so, airlines prioritize passenger comfort, even when it means fewer premium passengers. This is a rare move in a market that normally favors density over wider size.
The suite features high sidewalls and sliding doors that cocorate each passenger in a self-contained space. Other features include a spacious side console with hidden storage compartment, a 24-inch 4K entertainment screen, Bluetooth audio, wireless charging, USB-A, USB-C, and AC power outlets.
On the first rollout, Ana’s existing Dreamliners will remodel the new cabin, and the rest will be able to follow future delivery. (Currently, the airline has 35 787s, with 28 more being ordered.) The airline plans to deploy its products on long distance routes connecting Tokyo, Europe and Australia to Tokyo.
In addition to the new business class cabin, Ana shared plans for improved economy seats and premium economy recliner earlier this year. It also appears on the refreshed 787. Economy seats feature adjustable headrests, a 13.3-inch touchscreen seatback entertainment center, AC, USB, and USB-C power outlets. Meanwhile, the Premium Economy seats also include privacy wings, leg rests, footrests and a 15.6-inch screen. They are arranged in a 33-2-3-fold configuration, each with a pitch of 33-inch and 40-inch respectively.
