Recaro Aircraft Seating has officially commenced deliveries of its new R4 premium economy seat product, with Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) scheduled to launch the advanced seating option across its Boeing 787-9 long-haul fleet before the end of 2026.
Deliveries of the R4 seat originally began in June 2026. Marketed as the successor to Recaro's popular PL3530 long-haul premium economy seat—which is currently deployed by international air carriers including Air India and LATAM—the new R4 seating model has officially secured European Technical Standard Order (ETSO) certification for the Boeing 787 aircraft family.
The R4 premium economy seat incorporates headrest-integrated privacy wings with integrated reading lights, providing passengers with increased separation and enhanced personal privacy in the cabin. Additional passenger amenities include a 16-inch inflight entertainment screen, a six-way adjustable headrest with neck support, side ambient lighting, multiple power supply configurations, a side console offering dedicated access for passengers with reduced mobility, and an extra-wide tray table featuring a soft open-and-close mechanism and dedicated device holders.
When evaluated against its predecessor, the R4 features an expanded seat width, an increased seat pitch extending to approximately 40 inches, and an enhanced recline capability of about 2 inches. The seat is equipped with a calf rest and a single-arm footrest design. Furthermore, Recaro highlighted that the lightweight construction of the seat reduces overall aircraft weight, contributing to lower carbon emissions and improved fuel efficiency while offering customizable color and finish options.
All Nippon Airways will introduce the R4 seat alongside Recaro's R3 economy seat across its next-generation Boeing 787-9 long-haul fleet, with operational deployment scheduled to begin by late 2026. Verified industry context indicates that the R4 seating concept was initially unveiled at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2023 in Hamburg and showcased in 2025, when All Nippon Airways formally selected the product to equip its long-haul premium economy cabins.
