JAL Sky Next to serve Itami, Hakodate, and Sapporo next.

Japan Airlines (JL/JAL), which introduced their refurbished 'JAL Sky Next' domestic aircraft on May 28th (JAL's first Sky Next 777 enters service.) on the Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) – Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) route, will be expanding the service to Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO) and Hakodate (HKD/RJCH) in July, and to Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC) in August.

Boeing 777-246 JA8985 Samurai Blue Jet supports Japan's national football (soccer) team, which is currently participating in 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Boasting all-new leather seats, new carpets, Dreamliner-style LED mood lighting, and in-flight Wi-Fi (available from July), Boeing 777-289 JA007D became the first to receive the revamp. Seat pitch remains the same at 38 inches (96.5 centimeters) for Class J and 31 inches (78.7 centimeters) for economy, however, slim-style seats increased legroom by five centimeters in economy.

By mid-2016, JAL plans to have 77 aircraft with the refurbished interiors in service, comprising seven 777-300s, nine 777-200s, 20 767-300/300ERs, and 41 737-800s. Work on their 777-300s will begin in August, 767s from September, and 737-800s from October. JAL targets 34 aircraft to have completed the revamp by the end of fiscal year 2014.

Boeing 777-246 JA8981 stopped by Honolulu for refueling and crew immigrations. She is seen here leaving for her final flight to Goodyear, where she will be scrapped. (Photo: JAL)

Meanwhile, the first Triple-Seven to be retired from JAL, 777-246 JA8981 (JAL retires first Boeing 777.), was ferried via Honolulu (HNL/PHNL) to Goodyear (GYR/KGYR) in Arizona, U.S.A. on June 13th as flight JL8131. It will be dismantled for spare parts. Another five older 777-200s will be retired by March 2016, while others will receive the 'Sky Next' upgrade.

Reference: Aviation Wire, June 17th. (in Japanese)
Reference: Japan Airlines @ Facebook (in Japanese)

*Post edited/updated on June 20th.

JAL retires first Boeing 777.

Japan Airlines' (JL/JAL) first 'Triple-Seven', a Boeing 777-246 registered JA8981, operated its last revenue flight on April 30th from Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG) to Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) as flight JL140. This becomes the first Japanese-registered 777 to be retired.

Boeing 777-246 JA8981 Waku Waku Aloha Jet taxies at rainy Haneda in May 2011. Although the campaign ended at the end of January, she retained these colors until July. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The aircraft is the 23rd 777 to roll off the production line and completed its maiden flight on January 26th, 1996. Christened Sirius, it was delivered the following month on February 15th. JAL's domestic 777s were called 'Star Jets' and named after constellations. After the merger with Japan Air System (JD/JAS) in 2004, JA8981 received the 'Arc of the Sun' livery in summer 2007. From October 2010 to July 2011, it also flew in Waku Waku Aloha Jet special livery to promote JAL's resumption of Haneda – Honolulu (HNL/PHNL) flights after the airport was reopened for long-haul international flights.

Boeing 777-246 JA8981 Sirius rests between training flights at Grant County Airport in Moses Lake, Washington, USA. JAL's training center here was closed in March 2009. (Photo: JAL)

Sirius spent its entire 18 years with JAL flying Japan's domestic skies. Final maintenance checks have been finished, and the aircraft is currently stored at Haneda in an all-white livery awaiting a ferry flight to Goodyear (GYR/KGYR) in Arizona, U.S.A. Of their 15-strong 777-200 fleet, including seven inherited through the merger with JAS, nine are being refurbished throughout the cabin with JAL's Sky Next interiors (JAL Sky Next new domestic product unveiled.), while the other six are being phased out by March 2016, including JA8981.

How times have passed... the Triple-Seven is still a very new airplane for me.