JAL Fukuoka Airport : Domestic Flight New Seat Exhibit Report
In September 2019, JAL launched domestic operations of Airbus’s then latest A350-900 on the Tokyo (Haneda)–Fukuoka route. Prior to that, in July, the new seats to be installed on the A350-900 were exhibited at Fukuoka Airport, so I went to take a look.
For aviation enthusiasts, it’s a real delight to have the chance to see seats that are usually inside an aircraft placed out in the first-floor check-in area of the airport. Getting to view aircraft seats up close without actually boarding is exciting—even if many ordinary travelers might just walk past such a display.
I viewed the First Class seat, the J Class seat, and the standard Economy Class seat, each in turn.
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New Seat Display
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First Class Seat
This is the First Class seat installed on the Airbus A350-900. It features leather upholstery and a large shell structure behind the seat, with wide armrests that provide a strong sense of privacy. The seat reclines without affecting the passenger behind — a significant advantage. While this large shell design is common in Business Class seats on international flights, its introduction on domestic routes is truly groundbreaking.
The design uses JAL’s corporate red as the base color, creating a “burgundy” and black color scheme.
J Class Seat
This is the J Class seat. Compared to standard domestic seats, it offers a wider and more spacious design — similar to Premium Economy on international flights. However, unlike international Premium Economy, there’s no partition behind the seat. With a generous seat pitch of 97 cm (compared to 79 cm for regular seats), these seats provide a comfortable experience even on domestic routes.
Economy Class Seat
This is the standard Economy Class seat for domestic flights. Even in Economy, every seat is equipped with a personal monitor, USB port, and AC power outlet. The headrest can also be adjusted vertically.
