JAL to place Boeing 787-9 on New York route in FY2015.

Masaru Onishi, Chairman of Japan Airlines (JL/JAL), revealed that New York/John F. Kennedy (JFK/KJFK) would be the first destination to receive their Boeing 787-9, the 6.1-meter stretch of the original Dreamliner, from Tokyo (Haneda or Narita?) when it is delivered in fiscal year 2015.

Japan Airlines' Boeing 787-9 and 787-8. (Image: Boeing)

While JAL's current 787-8s seat 186 (42 business, 144 economy), a new Sky Suite-based configuration (JAL adding more Sky Suite destinations.) is to be introduced soon, and the stretched 787-9 is expected to have about 50 more seats than the 787-8 and boast their award-winning Sky Suite interior (JAL's fleet strategies for 'Rolling Plan 2014'.) from first delivery.

As of now, JAL serves New York's JFK twice daily from Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA), one with the 777-300ER and the other with the 787-8.

Source: Aviation Wire, April 30th. (in Japanese)

JAL hopes to resume Sao Paulo with Boeing 787s.

Japan Airlines' (JL/JAL) Chairman Masaru Onishi revealed that the airline is willing to resume service from Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA) to Sao Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU/SBGR) if there is sufficient demand, in an interview held during his trip to the Brazilian capital at the end of March.

Boeing 787-8 JA821J arrives at Haneda in the late hours. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

"We strongly want to make it fly," he said in a recent interview with Kyodo News in Sao Paulo, referring to the route, which was terminated in September 2010 under JAL's restructuring during the company's bankruptcy. JAL had operated the link via New York/John F. Kennedy (JFK/KJFK) two to three times per week for over 32 years, using the Boeing 747 in its later years. JAL's Sao Paulo branch was also subsequently closed.

Amid high hopes of Brazil's economic growth further boosted by the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup (football/soccer) and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics/Paralympics, Japanese automakers including Honda have built new plants in South America's biggest country, and many requests have been made by Brazil's Japanese community to resume the route. Mr. Onishi told that if JAL were to re-launch the route, the flight will likely go via New York utilizing their medium-capacity fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The Narita - JFK route went double-daily from March 30th.

To check on potential demand, JAL plans to sell some seats on TAM Airlines' (JJ/TAM) flights between New York and Sao Paulo by implementing code-shares with the Oneworld partner, which only joined the alliance on March 30th. "With the code-sharing, we will be able to know the Brazilian market better. Then we will decide whether to operate our own flights," Mr. Onishi added.

Mr. Onishi also said that Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW/KDFW) is one of the main candidate destinations from Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT). Nine daily daytime international slots remain unallocated at Tokyo's slot-restricted downtown airport, and all of these are said to be for flights to the U.S.A. Negotiations between the two respective authorities regarding which side gets how many slots have yet to bear fruit, but are hoped to reach an agreement in time for the Winter 2014 timetable effective October 26th.

Source: Nikkey Shimbun, April 2nd. (in Japanese)

Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka chartered JAL Boeing 787.

Former Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (Nippon Professional Baseball) pitcher Masahiro Tanaka chartered a Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) Boeing 787 to fly to New York, after a recent signing of a seven-year, 155 million-USD contract with the New York Yankees (Major League Baseball).

Flight JL8808, operated by B787-8 JA824J, departed Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA) at 2020 local time, and arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK/KJFK) 10 hours later at 1623 local time. On board the 186-seat Dreamliner (42 Business, 144 Economy) were himself, his wife, three other officials, and his pet dog 'Haru'. It is estimated to have cost around 200,000 USD and it was paid for by himself. Mr. Tanaka chartered the aircraft to "keep himself in the best condition in preparation of the spring camp", according to a Rakuten spokesperson. The Dreamliner was ferried back to Japan later that day empty.

Establishing a NPB record of 26-consecutive-decision wins in 2013 and playing an undisputed role in helping the Sendai-based team win its first ever Nippon Series, it had been increasingly difficult for him to escape the spotlight anywhere he went. But couldn't he have chartered a smaller aircraft?

Source: FlyTeam, February 9th. (in Japanese)

JAL announces Summer 2014 international plans.

Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) announced its international operation changes for Summer 2014 (effective March 30th), including the expansion of Tokyo/Haneda's (HND/RJTT) international network for daytime hours (0600 - 2300). The carrier was awarded five daytime slots.

Boeing 777-246/ER JA701J departing Haneda for San Francisco as JL2. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

New Routes/Resumptions: 
Haneda - Ho Chi Minh City/Tan Son Nhat (SGN/VVTS) new 1 daily with 76W/763.
JL079 HND 0125 - 0515 SGN 76W/763 Daily
JL070 SGN 1355 - 2200 HND 76W/763 Daily
 
Haneda - London/Heathrow (LHR/EGLL) new 1 daily with 77W.
JL043 HND 1120 - 1550 LHR 77W Daily
JL044 LHR 1915 - 1500(+1) HND 77W Daily 
*Service operates as JL401/402 on March 30 - 31.

Frequency Increases:
Haneda - Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi (BKK/VTBS) from 1 to 2 daily with 772/76W/763.
JL033 HND 0040 - 0500 BKK 772/76W/763 Daily
JL031 HND 1130 - 1540 BKK 772/76W/763 Daily *NEW
JL032 BKK 0945 - 1755 HND 772/76W/763 Daily *NEW
JL034 BKK 2200 - 0610 HND 772/76W/763 Daily

Haneda - Singapore/Changi (SIN/WSSS) from 1 to 2 daily with 772/76W/763.
JL035 HND 0005 - 0605 SIN 772/76E/763 Daily
JL037 HND 1120 - 1720 SIN 772/76W/763 Daily *NEW
JL038 SIN 0150 - 0950 HND 772/76W/763 Daily *NEW
JL036 SIN 2150 - 0550 HND 772/76W/763 Daily

Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA) - Moscow/Domodedovo (DME/UUDD) from 3 to 4 weekly with 788.

Narita - New York/John F. Kennedy (JFK/KJFK) from 1 to 2 daily with 77W/788.
JL006 NRT 1110 - 1205 JFK 77W Daily
JL004 NRT 1830 - 1825 JFK 788 Daily *NEW
JL003 JFK 0930 - 1240(+1) NRT 788 Daily *NEW
JL005 JFK 1315 - 1625(+1) NRT 77W Daily

Schedule Changes:
Haneda - Paris/Charles de Gaulle (CDG/LFPG) night-time moves to daytime.
JL045 HND 1035 - 1610 CDG 77W Daily
JL046 CDG 2100 - 1555(+1) HND 77W Daily

Frequency Reductions:
Narita - Suvarnabhumi from 2 to 1 daily with 76W/763.
Narita - Changi from 2 to 1 daily with 76W/763.

Suspensions:
Narita - Heathrow.

JAL's Heathrow service from Narita is shifted to Haneda, due to slot restrictions at Heathrow. Charles de Gaulle will receive a flight from both Tokyo airports; Haneda with the Boeing 777-300ER and Narita with the Boeing 787-8. Suvarnabhumi and Changi will see one of their Narita round-trips shifted to Haneda. Tan Son Nhat will be a new destination from Haneda.

JAL will accelerate refurbishing its B777-300ERs and B767-300ERs with the Sky Suite product (JAL adding more Sky Suite destinations.), with plans to have 22 completed by July. By the end of 2014, it plans to offer either full-flat seats or shell-flat seats for business class on all medium and long-haul Asian routes plus Hawaii. Meanwhile, JAL will carry out international charter flights to the U.K. from Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) this summer in part to celebrate the airport's 20th anniversary, and has stated that re-starting long-haul routes from Kansai and Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG) are seriously being considered from 2015. These flights will most likely be operated by B787s.

Source: Japan Airlines (in Japanese)

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