JAL Happy Journey Express enters service.

On July 14th, Japan Airlines [JL/JAL] placed Happy Journey Express, the airline's fourth generation of Disney-themed special livery aircraft, into service. Boeing 737-846(WL) JA318J, seating 20 in Class J (domestic business) and 145 in economy, became the first example to receive the treatment. Three additional domestic-configured aircraft will wear similar decals, and the quartet will fly in the color scheme through April 2016.

Boeing 737-846(WL) JA318J Happy Journey Express climbs from Haneda bound for Matsuyama on her inaugural flight with the decals. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Inside the aircraft, headrest covers feature Duffy, and for young flyers, JAL will hand out specially-designed plastic folders with a picture of Disney's popular stuffed bear character. Postcards showing off the special livery will also be available for free. The inaugural flight was JL435, service from Tokyo/Haneda [HND/RJTT] to Matsuyama [MYJ/RJOM], which departed from Spot 4 in Terminal 1 at 1256 JST carrying 97 passengers, four flight attendants, and two pilots. It touched down at the Shikoku airport at 1414.

A collaboration between JAL and Oriental Land, operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, the special color scheme celebrates the 10th anniversary of Journey With Duffy at Tokyo DisneySea. Disney themes have appeared on JAL airplanes in 1994, 2001, and 2013 (JAL winding down Disney Happiness Express ops.). Which flights the aircraft would be assigned to would be posted on their website on the prior evening. The second aircraft, slated to be 737-846(WL) JA327J, will enter service on July 22nd, followed by the third, to be 737-846(WL) JA341J, on August 1st, and the fourth in September.

Source: Japan Airlines, June 25th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, July 14th. (in Japanese)

JAL to terminate Narita – Okinawa.

Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) has released their Winter 2014/2015 timetable, effective October 26th, 2014 through March 28th, 2015. It includes axing of the once-daily Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA) – Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) service, which is mostly aimed at connecting passengers for their international flights to and from Narita.

Boeing 777-346 JA8945 moments before touchdown at Okinawa's Naha Airport. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Meanwhile, Japan's second largest carrier will adjust capacity on other routes during the winter months. Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) to Izumo (IZO/RJOC) and Kumamoto (KMJ/RJFT) will see frequency increases from five to six and eight to nine, respectively, while Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) to Amami (ASJ/RJKA), Izumo, Matsuyama (MYJ/RJOM), and Miyazaki (KMI/RJFM) will all see one of its flights being cut.

Frequency Increases (DOMESTIC):
Haneda – Izumo from 5 to 6 daily.
Haneda – Kumamoto from 8 to 9 daily.

Frequency Reductions (DOMESTIC):
Fukuoka – Amami from 2 to 1 daily.
Fukuoka – Izumo from 3 to 2 daily.
Fukuoka – Matsuyama from 6 to 5 daily.
Fukuoka – Miyazaki from 10 to 9 daily.

Suspensions (DOMESTIC):
Narita – Naha 1 daily.

Currently, the once-daily Narita – Naha service operates with a 261-seat (42 Class J and 219 economy) Boeing 767-300. Load factors for the route for April - June last year hovered around 40 - 50%, however, it recorded 22.2% (down 20.2% from last year) for April this year, 25.3% (down 24.5% from last year) for May, and 32.3% (down 25.5% from last year) for June. Competition with Narita-based LCCs Jetstar Japan (GK/JJP), in which JAL owns a minority stake, and Vanilla Air (JW/VNL) has significantly increased. JAL's international-connecting passengers will still be able to book the route as a code-share with Jetstar Japan, which operates up to four daily round-trips.

JAL's international plans for Winter 2014/2015, including the anticipated resumption of the Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) – Los Angeles (LAX/KLAX) route (JAL to resume Kansai – Los Angeles in Winter 2014/2015.), will be announced at a later date.

Reference: Japan Airlines, August 20th. (in Japanese)
Reference: Aviation Wire, August 20th. (in Japanese)

ANA's Boeing 787-9 enters service.

All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) became the first airline in the world to place the Boeing 787-9 into scheduled revenue service on August 7th, when JA830A, their first of the stretched Dreamliner, inaugurated operations on the Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) – Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) route (ANA to fly Boeing 787-9 inaugural on August 7th.). The aircraft also flew to Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO) and Matsuyama (MYJ/RJOM) later in the day.

Boeing 787-9 JA830A at Spot 60 at Haneda Airport with staff carrying a banner reading 'Fly with ANA on the 787-9 Dreamliner'. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

The inaugural flight, NH241, departed Spot 60 of Haneda's Terminal 2 at 0730 JST with 387 passengers (including 11 infants) and 11 crew. It was piloted by Captains Katsuki Ikeda and Yuichi Yamamoto, with Ikeda-san in command, while the Chief Purser was Kazuyo Nishizono. President and CEO Osamu Shinobe was also present at the ceremony that took place at the gate. ANA took delivery of JA830A on August 27th and it arrived at Haneda on July 29th (ANA takes delivery of first Boeing 787-9.). It operated a special sightseeing flight carrying Japanese and American primary (elementary) school students on August 4th (ANA flies world's first Boeing 787-9 passenger flight.).

Compared to the 787-8, the Dash 9 incorporates an additional 3.05-meter section in both the forward and aft of the fuselage, stretching the airframe by 6.1 meters. It can fly approximately 555 kilometers farther than the original version. Compared to the 767-300ER, the second member of the Dreamliner family can carry 1.2 times more passengers and cargo, and fuel economy will also be 23% better, according to ANA. The airline has said the 787-8 is 20% better than the 767-300ER.

Powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, ANA's domestic 787-9s are being configured in a 395-seat layout with 18 Premium Class (six abreast; 2-2-2) and 377 economy class (nine abreast; 3-3-3) seats, carrying 60 more passengers (six Premium Class and 54 economy) than their domestic 787-8s. Another domestic 787-9, registered JA833A, will be delivered this autumn, while the first long-haul international 787-9 configured with 215 seats (48 business, 21 premium economy, and 146 economy) will be delivered in early 2015. ANA is the biggest 787 customer to date, with orders counting 36 787-8s (28 delivered), and 44 787-9s (1 delivered).

Reference: Aviation Wire, August 7th. (in Japanese)

ANA to fly Boeing 787-9 inaugural on August 7th.

All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) will operate the world's first scheduled revenue flight of the Boeing 787-9, the second member of the Dreamliner family, on August 7th. Their first example, registered JA830A, was delivered to Japan on July 29th (ANA takes delivery of first Boeing 787-9.).

Boeing 787-9 JA830A takes off from Paine Field. (Photo: Boeing)

The newest Dreamliner will operate a round-trip each from Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) to Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF), Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO), and Matsuyama (MYJ/RJOM) from that date. Powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 series engines, ANA's domestic-configured 787-9s seat 395, including 18 in Premium Class (six abreast; 2-2-2) and 377 in economy (nine abreast; 3-3-3), carrying 60 more passengers (six Premium Class and 54 economy) than their domestic 787-8s.

Flight Schedule (effective Jul/1/2014):
Haneda – Fukuoka 1 of 18 daily operated with 787-9.
NH241 HND 0725 – 0915 FUK 789 Daily
NH248 FUK 1005 – 1150 HND 789 Daily

Haneda – Itami 1 of 15 daily operated with 787-9.
NH025 HND 1300 – 1405 ITM 789 Daily
NH030 ITM 1500 – 1615 HND 789 Daily

Haneda – Matsuyama 1 of 6 daily operated with 787-9.
NH595 HND 1715 – 1840 MYJ 789 Daily
NH598 MYJ 1930 – 2100 HND 789 Daily 

ANA will also fly a Mt. Fuji sightseeing charter flight from Haneda and back with the first stretch of the Dreamliner on August 4th, carrying Japanese and American primary (elementary) school students in Japan as part of the TOMODACHI Initiative (ANA to receive first Boeing 787-9 on July 27th.).

The first two 787-9s, JA830A and JA833A, are being configured in a domestic layout. Meanwhile, Japan's largest carrier has released the seat layout for their long-haul international 787-9s; 48 business, 21 premium economy, and 146 economy (total 215). ANA's third example, to be registered JA836A, will be delivered in this arrangement, with all five aircraft to follow to have the same. On which long-haul routes will these be placed into service?

Reference: All Nippon Airways, July 31st. (in Japanese)

Peach outlines Summer 2014 mass cancellations.

On April 30th, Peach Aviation (MM/APJ), which one week earlier announced up to 2,088 possible flight cancellations for Summer 2014 (Peach to cancel up to 2,088 flights this summer.) due to cockpit crew shortage, outlined details of the reduced operation from May 19th through October 25th.

A Peach Airbus A320 takes off. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

A total of 1,624 flights have been announced as cancellation possibilities during the period, in addition to the 448 flights already canceled between May 1st and 18th, which brings the total to 2,072. The Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB)-based LCC is offering full refunds and re-bookings to their other flights.

Breakdown of Cancellations from May 1st through October 25th:
Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) – Ishigaki (ISG/ROIG): 198 flights
Kansai – Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF): 496 flights
Kansai – Hong Kong (HKG/VHHH): 46 flights
Kansai – Kagoshima (KOJ/RJFK): 304 flights
Kansai – Matsuyama (MYJ/RJOM): 242 flights
Kansai – Naha: 150 flights
Kansai – Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC): 112 flights
Kansai – Sendai (SDJ/RJSS): 466 flights
Kansai – Seoul/Incheon (ICN/RKSI): 42 flights *Only in May and June.
Kansai – Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA): 16 flights

Noteworthy routes include Kansai – Fukuoka, which saw the largest number of possible cancellations accounting for 36.9% of planned flights during this period, while the Naha – Ishigaki route saw the highest rate at a whopping 60.4%. The latter has become a low-fare battleground with Skymark Airlines (BC/SKY) as well as ANA Group and JAL-affiliate Japan Transocean Air (NU/JTA), which also lowered prices, pulling down yields. Meanwhile, routes to Taiwan, both to Taipei/Taoyuan (TPE/RCTP) and Kaohsiung (KHH/RCKH), and to Busan/Gimhae (PUS/RKPK) in South Korea, remain unaffected, reflecting their popularity. Incheon won't see any cancellations for the peak season from July as well.
 
Peach currently employs 52 Captains and 56 First Officers (Copilots), however, eight Captains are absent from work due to health-related issues, and the company's target to recruit 10 additional Captains from outside did not go as planned. Rumors of delays in in-house training of First Officers to become Captains, and flight attendants and maintenance crew shortages have been denied.

Peach has so far been the most successful of the Japanese LCCs, but how much affect these mass cancellations and the April 28th incident at Okinawa (Peach Airbus A320 narrowly avoids crash at Okinawa.) will have on the fledgling carrier is unsure, though it will most definitely be a negative one.

Source: Peach Aviation, April 24th. (PDF; in Japanese)
Source: Peach Aviation, April 30th. (PDF; in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, April 30th. (in Japanese)

Peach to cancel up to 2,088 flights this summer.

On April 24th, Peach Aviation (MM/APJ) announced at a press conference held at Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) that they are considering canceling up to 2,088 flights from May 19th through October 25th due to pilot shortage.

Airbus A320-214 JA806P taxies for departure at Seoul's Incheon. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB)-based LCC currently employs 108 cockpit crews, consisting of 52 Captains and 56 First Officers (Copilot), however, eight Captains are absent from work due to health-related issues, and the company's target to recruit 10 additional Captains from outside is not going as planned. Peach denied any reports that in-house training of First Officers to become Captains is failing as well as rumors of flight attendants and maintenance crew shortages.

As a result, they have already decided to cancel 448 flights from May 19th to June 30th, covering flights from Kansai to Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF), Hong Kong (HKG/VHHH), Kagoshima (KOJ/RJFK), Matsuyama (MYJ/RJOM), Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH), Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC), Sendai (SDJ/RJSS), and Seoul/Incheon (ICN/RKSI), offering full refunds as well as re-booking on other Peach-operated flights. It is estimated that 3 billion JPY of revenue would be lost. Final decisions on flights after that date will be announced on April 30th. 2,088 flights equates to 16% of their planned schedule, affecting over 26,000 passengers.

Peach CEO Shinichi Inoue told media "From now on, we will leave more room (for target misses) in recruitment and network plans, so that this never happens again." However, he reiterated that the fledgling LCC is on-track to launch its second hub at Naha on July 19th (Peach announces Naha - Fukuoka.) and its first full year profit is still expected for FY2013, which ended last month, and another year of profit for FY2014 could be reached by increasing aircraft utilization for Winter 2014/2015. Peach currently operates a dozen Airbus A320s, with another to arrive in June, and two more before March 2015.

Crew shortages for Airbus A320s; first Jetstar Japan (GK/JJP) with maintenance crews and now Peach with pilots. In historically Boeing-dominated Japan, recruiting and training staff certified for Airbuses is not catching up with demand. Opting for Boeing 737s for that reason, are executives of Spring Airlines Japan (IJ/SJO) (Spring Airlines Japan to launch services on June 27th.) smiling?

Source: Nikkei Shimbun, April 24th. (in Japanese)
Source: Asahi Shimbun, April 24th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, April 24th. (in Japanese)

JAL introduces WAON Jet.

On February 14th, Japan Airlines' (JL/JAL) latest special livery, dubbed 'WAON Jet', entered service. Its inaugural flight was JL1841, service from Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) to Nagasaki (NGS/RJFU).

Boeing 767-346 JA8364 'WAON Jet' awaiting its next flight at Haneda. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Boeing 767-346 JA8364 was the chosen for the treatment, as part of 'Habatako Nippon! Mirai Wo Nosete' (Fly Japan! Carrying Our Future), a joint project of JAL and AEON, Japan's largest shopping mall developer and Asia's biggest retailer, to celebrate JAL Mileage Bank's (JMB) seventh anniversary of the JMB WAON Card. WAON is AEON group's electronic money system and JMB WAON Card members are able to earn miles using WAON they load on the card.

Close-up of the WAON Jet logo. (Image: AEON)

The special livery placed near the rear of the fuselage consists of WAON's mascot 'Happy WAON' and a mosaic image of Japan, which is an assemblage of 7,610 smiling faces selected from AEON and JAL customers who submitted their photos in November and December 2013. JA8364 will appear on routes from Haneda to Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF), Hakodate (HKD/RJCH), Izumo (IZO/RJOC), Kagoshima (KOJ/RJFK), Komatsu (KMQ/RJNK), Kumamoto (KMJ/RJFT), Matsuyama (MYJ/RJOM), Nagasaki, Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO), Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC), Takamatsu (TAK/RJOT), and Tokushima (TKS/RJOS), and will remain in the livery until August 31st.

Source: AEON Retail WAON Jet (in Japanese)

Peach commences Matsuyama.

On February 1st, Peach Aviation (MM/APJ) launched double-daily Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) - Matsuyama (MYJ/RJOM) service. Operated by their 180-seat Airbus A320s, it is the 10th domestic route and the 16th overall for the Kansai-based LCC.

Peach's Airbus A320-214 JA802P at Sendai. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Kansai - Matsuyama new 2 daily with 320.
MM301 KIX 0755 – 0855 MYJ 320 Daily
MM309 KIX 1910 – 2010 MYJ 320 Daily
MM302 MYJ 0925 – 1015 KIX 320 Daily
MM310 MYJ 2040 – 2130 KIX 320 Daily

Operated by A320-214 JA803P, inaugural flight MM301 departed Kansai at 0747 with 172 passengers on board, arriving at Matsuyama at 0845. The return leg MM302 left Matsuyama at 0924 with 166, and arrived back at Kansai at 1012, local time. Peach is offering one-way fares from as low as 3,290 JPY. Peach is the second domestic LCC to serve Matsuyama after Jetstar Japan (GK/JJP), which launched an up-to-three-times daily service to and from Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA) on June 11th, 2013.

Peach's next new route will be Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) - Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF), to be launched on July 19th when their new Naha base officially opens.

Source: Aviation Wire (in Japanese)

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