ANA launches ‘THE Room FX’ for 787 fleet

ANA has long been an airline unafraid of pushing the envelope when it comes to premium cabin design. From its understated, elegant service to its award-winning business-class suite, THE Room, the airline has consistently carved out a distinct identity in the skies. Now, working in close collaboration with Acumen Design Associates and Safran Seats, ANA is introducing the next chapter in its design evolution – THE Room FX.

This bold new concept is an evolution of ANA’s 777 ‘THE Room’ but distills it into an even more thoughtful and flexible form, albeit this could be a love it or hate it moment for the airline, because it’s doing away with one of business class’s most familiar features: the recline.

At first glance, THE Room FX bears more than a passing resemblance to its predecessor. There’s the same generously wide suite structure, sliding privacy doors, and warm, architectural finishes that blend Japanese restraint with international polish. But dig a little deeper, and it becomes clear that this is a complete reimagining of the way passengers experience comfort in the sky.

Instead of a traditional seatback recline, THE Room FX introduces what ANA calls “multi-postural architecture.” The seat shifts into several distinct positions – upright, relax, and full-flat – through a series of base and backrest articulations, not by angling backwards in the conventional sense. It’s a concept first made familiar by Finnair’s AirLounge seat, but ANA’s execution feels both more refined and more immersive. The transitions between each mode are smooth and intuitively controlled, allowing passengers to shift posture without the awkward contortions or loud mechanical clunks often associated with recline systems.

The bed, when fully deployed, offers a significantly larger flat sleeping surface compared to many traditional seats, and one bonus is that it is free from gaps, dips or awkward pressure points. There’s also an increased sense of spatial generosity: by eliminating the recline shell, THE Room FX carves out extra real estate within the suite itself, resulting in what is likely to be one of the most spacious business-class seats in the sky. In fact, where other carriers get seven rows of Business Class in the 787-9, ANA is placing just six rows.

Beyond the seating mechanics, ANA has paid close attention to the supporting details that elevate the passenger experience. A newly enlarged side console provides both tactile presence and functional storage, housing power outlets, wireless charging, a laptop-friendly surface, and convenient stowage areas that are ideal for personal devices or amenity kits. The suite also benefits from a refreshed IFE monitor with an ultra-high-definition 24inch screen and a companion second touchscreen built into the seat’s console for controlling entertainment, lighting, and seat position.

Materials throughout the suite look familiar, and have been carefully selected to reflect ANA’s design ethos — clean, calming, and quietly luxurious. A mix of soft woven fabrics and wood-effect finishes create a sense of residential familiarity, while still adhering to the brand’s meticulous approach to cleanliness and wear resistance. Subtle ambient lighting reinforces this comfort-forward design, with modulated illumination that adapts to different seating positions and flight phases.

From a technical standpoint, THE Room FX is lighter and more maintenance-friendly than its predecessor, thanks to its simplified mechanical structure. The absence of complex reclining motors and actuators reduces weight, energy consumption, and servicing needs – a win not only for operational efficiency but also for sustainability targets, but time will tell if the ‘marmite’ of seats will be a success for the carrier.

ANA plans to roll out THE Room FX on newly delivered Boeing 787-9s beginning in FY2026, with at least 16 aircraft in the existing 787-9 fleet receiving retrofits the following year. The initial deployment will focus on long-haul routes to Europe and North America – key markets where comfort, privacy and product innovation are highly valued by frequent flyers.

For ANA, THE Room FX isn’t just a new seat – it’s a considered evolution in how passengers live, work and rest at 38,000 feet. By discarding the notion that recline is essential to comfort, ANA has opened the door to a more holistic, posture-based design approach that aligns more closely with how people naturally relax and recharge. It’s a bold move, one that not only reaffirms the airline’s reputation as a design-led innovator but also potentially challenges the entire industry to rethink the future of the business-class experience.

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Images from Acumen