JAL shifts more Tokyo – China flights from Narita to Haneda.

On August 31st, Japan Airlines [JL/JAL] announced plans to expand their China network from Tokyo/Haneda [HND/RJTT] with new daily service to Guangzhou [CAN/ZGGG] and Shanghai/Pudong [PVG/ZSPD] along with a second daily round-trip to Beijing/Capital [PEK/ZBAA] effective October 25th, the beginning of the Winter 2015/2016 timetable. Meanwhile, Tokyo/Narita [NRT/RJAA] will see JAL axe Guangzhou and reduce Beijing from twice to once daily.

Nine 767s, including pictured Boeing 767-346/ER(WL) JA618J at Honolulu, are equipped with winglets and Sky Suite interior. JAL, which flies 32 -300ERs and 12 -300s, is celebrating their 30th year of 767 operations. 60 were ordered and the first, a -200, was delivered back on July 23rd, 1985. Although 787s are gradually taking over the 767s' roles, newer -300ERs are being converted to domestic, replacing older -300s and 777s. The versatile aircraft will surely soldier on for another decade or two. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The new Haneda – Shanghai/Pudong link will be served by Boeing 767-300ERs configured with JAL's award-winning Sky Suite product (JAL adding more Sky Suite destinations.) and boasting a generous 199-seat layout (24 business and 175 economy class). The new Guangzhou and additional Beijing flights will see non-Sky Suite 227-seat (30 business and 197 economy class) 767-300ERs deployed.

Flight Schedule:
Haneda – Tokyo/Haneda – Beijing/Capital increase from 1 to 2 daily.
JL021 HND 0910 – 1220 PEK 788 Daily
JL025 HND 1720 – 2030 PEK 763 Daily *NEW from Oct/25.
JL020 PEK 0825 – 1245 HND 763 Daily *NEW from Oct/26.
JL022 PEK 1640 – 2100 HND 788 Daily

Tokyo/Haneda – Guangzhou NEW daily with 767-300ER.
JL087 HND 0850 – 1305 CAN 763 Daily *From Oct/25.
JL088 CAN 1450 – 1945 HND 763 Daily *From Oct/25.

Tokyo/Haneda – Shanghai/Hongqiao daily with 777-200ER. (existing service)
JL081 HND 0915 – 1145 SHA 772 Daily
JL082 SHA 1305 – 1645 HND 772 Daily

Tokyo/Haneda – Shanghai/Pudong NEW daily with 767-300ER.
JL085 HND 1440 – 1710 PVG 76W Daily *From Oct/25.
JL086 PVG 1835 – 2220 HND 76W Daily *From Oct/25.

In May, authorities of China and Japan agreed to allocate two round-trips to each side for Haneda – Guangzhou services. JAL's archrival All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA] was the first to take advantage, having already announced a similar expansion at Haneda and shift away from Narita (ANA strengthens Haneda – China with Guangzhou.). China Southern Airlines [CZ/CSN], based in China's third most populated city, is reportedly also preparing to launch the route though no official announcement has yet been made.

Source: Japan Airlines, 2015 August 31st. (in Japanese) 
Source: Aviation Wire, 2015 September 1st. (in Japanese)

JAL is returning to Dallas-Fort Worth in November.

On August 31st, Japan Airlines [JL/JAL] announced that they will revive nonstop Tokyo/Narita [NRT/RJAA] – Dallas-Fort Worth [DFW/KDFW] service on November 30th, ending a 14-year hiatus. It will initially be operated four times weekly, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and will be increased to daily from Spring 2016. 161-seat (38 business, 35 premium economy, and 88 economy class) Sky Suite Boeing 787-8s will be assigned to the new link.

Boeing 787-8 JA837J, which was the first Dreamliner to boast the Sky Suite product, rests between flights at Narita. JAL currently operates 22 Dash 8s and a single Dash 9, with another three and 19 on order, respectively. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

President Yoshiharu Ueki had revealed earlier this year that resuming Dallas was in the works, especially after Toyota decided to move its North American headquarters to the metropolis by 2017 (JAL contemplating Dallas-Fort Worth.). Joint-venture (JV) and Oneworld partner American Airlines [AA/AAL] has an extensive network to Latin America including Mexico, and Dallas is also a strategic transfer point. Rival All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA] only launched Houston/George Bush [IAH/KIAH] on June 12th (ANA launches Narita – Houston.) to tap into that market too, through JV and Star Alliance partner United Airlines [UA/UAL].

Flight Schedule:
Narita – Dallas-Fort Worth NEW 4 weekly with 787-8. (2015/Nov/30 - 2016/Mar/26)
JL012 NRT 1055 – 0720 DFW 788 Mo/We/Fr/Su
JL011 DFW 1145 – 1625(+1) NRT 788 Mo/We/Fr/Su

JAL's award-winning Sky Suite product boasts one of the most generous seat densities, and the 787 is the newest aircraft to receive the treatment (JAL's Sky Suite 787 makes debut.), which includes lie-flat business class seats with direct aisle access from every seat, an all-new premium economy cabin, and a comfortable eight-abreast (2-4-2) layout for economy, along with in-flight wireless internet connection dubbed JAL Sky Wi-Fi.

Japan's now second largest carrier served Dallas until October 7th, 2001, when it dropped its daily 747-400 service from Narita in the aftermath of the September 11th atrocities. Partner American currently operates two daily flights both ways using 777-200ERs, and JAL's round-trip will also be part of the JV and carry their partner's code as well. The Texas city will become JAL's eighth gateway in the U.S. and the ninth trans-Pacific route after Osaka/Kansai [KIX/RJBB] – Los Angeles [LAX/KLAX], which was also reinstated on March 20th (JAL resumes Kansai – Los Angeles.).

Source: Japan Airlines, 2015 August 31st. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, 2015 August 31st. (in Japanese)

JAL takes delivery of first Boeing 787-9.

On June 11th, Japan Airlines' [JL/JAL] first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arrived at Tokyo/Narita [NRT/RJAA] on delivery. Registered JA861J, the aircraft seats 195 in a three-class layout of JAL's award-winning Sky Suite product; 44 Sky Suite (business), 35 Sky Premium (premium economy), and 116 Sky Wider II (economy) seats. It is expected to enter service on the Narita – Jakarta/Soukarno-Hatta [CGK/WIII] route on July 1st.

Boeing 787-9 JA861J arrives at Narita. The two General Electric GEnx-1B74/75 engines create 6% more thrust than the smaller Dash 8s. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Marked as flight JL8101, the delivery flight across the Pacific departed Paine Field [PAE/KPAE] on June 10th at 1630 PDT, and touched down at Narita on June 11th at 1818 JST. Although JAL's 787-9s share the same seats as the Sky Suite 787-8 (JAL's Sky Suite 787 makes debut.), which carries 161 (38 Sky Suite, 35 Sky Premium, and 88 Sky Wider II), the Dash 9 is 6.1 meters longer and carries 34 more passengers.

Lie-flat staggered business class seats on the Boeing 787-9. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

As with the Sky Suite 787-8, the newly-delivered stretched Dreamliners are equipped with MAGIC-VI in-flight entertainment (IFE) with touch-controlled monitors, in-flight wireless internet connection dubbed JAL Sky Wi-Fi, and toilets in all classes boasting washlets. Cabin LED lighting patterns will be set according to the season, for example with red and green to be featured for December.

Premium economy is in a seven-abreast layout. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Business class is in a six-abreast (2-2-2) staggered layout with direct aisle access from every seat. Manufactured by B/E Aerospace, the lie-flat seats measure 188 centimeters in length when extended, while its width is 65 centimeters. Premium economy seats are 49 centimeters wide (19.4 inches) with a seat pitch of 107-centimeters (42 inches) and are configured in at seven abreast (2-3-2). Seats are made by Zodiac Aerospace France. Economy class is in a generous eight-abreast (2-4-2) layout, offering five more centimeters in width than nine abreast (3-3-3), which has been the worldwide trend. Zodiac Aerospace USA is responsible for the manufacturing.

JAL continues to opt for eight abreast in economy, continuing to buck the nine-abreast trend. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

JAL has ordered 25 787-8s and 20 787-9s, of which 21 and one have been delivered, respectively. Unlike at rival All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA] where some 787s are also placed on short domestic missions in domestic layouts, all of JAL's 787s fly international routes (except for occasional domestic subsitutions), either for expansion or for replacing older 767-300ERs, which in turn are used to replace the oldest domestic 777s and 767s. JAL has confirmed it has no intention to introduce domestic-configured 787s.

Source: Aviation Wire, June 11th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, June 13th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, June 20th. (in Japanese)

*Edited/updated on June 20th, 2015.

JAL Boeing 787-9 due in July; expands Sky Suite cities.

Japan Airlines [JL/JAL] will place its first Boeing 787-9 in service on the Tokyo/Narita [NRT/RJAA] – Jakarta/Soukarno-Hatta [CGK/WIII] route in July. The stretched variant of the Dreamliner will boast JAL's latest Sky Suite product with a generous layout of only 195 seats; 44 fully lie-flat Sky Suite (business class) seats, 35 Sky Premium (premium economy), and 116 Sky Wider II (economy class).

Boeing 777-346/ER JA736J on final approach to Narita. JAL has completed reconfiguring all 13 flagship 777-300ERs with the Sky Suite product. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The 787-9s will basically have the same seats as the Sky Suite-configured 787-8s, the first of which entered service on the Narita – Frankfurt/Main [FRA/EDDF] route on December 1st (JAL's Sky Suite 787 makes debut.). The Sky Suite 787-8s also seat only 161, which includes 38 Sky Suite, 35 Sky Premium, and 88 Sky Wider II seats.

Meanwhile, Japan's second largest carrier is expanding Sky Suite destinations during the Summer 2015 timetable. New routes to receive the Sky Suite 787 are from Narita to Delhi/Indira Gandhi [DEL/VIDP] from March 29th, Helsinki/Vantaa [HEL/EFHK] from June 1st, and to Paris/Charles de Gaulle [CDG/LFPG] from March 29th. The Sky Suite 767 will be expanded to include Honolulu [HNL/PHNL] and Manila/Ninoy Aquino [MNL/RPLL] from Narita on March 29th.

Aimed at evoking a one-class higher feel, JAL's award-winning Sky Suite product is now available on 13 777-300ERs, four 787-8s, and nine 767-300ERs. The first Sky Suite 777 entered service on Narita – London/Heathrow [LHR/EGLL] in January 2013, and the Sky Suite 767 followed on the Narita – Vancouver [YVR/CYVR] route in December that year. In the new configuration, the 777-300ER seats eight in first, 49 in business, 40 in premium economy, and 135 in economy (232 total), and the 767-300ER seats 24 in business and 175 in economy (199 total).

Source: Japan Airlines, January 21st. (in Japanese)
Source: Japan Airlines, January 21st. (in Japanese)

JAL's Sky Suite 787 makes debut.

On December 1st, Japan Airlines [JL/JAL] placed their first Sky Suite 787 into service. Boasting JAL's award-winning Sky Suite interior (JAL adding more Sky Suite destinations.), Boeing 787-8 JA837J, their 16th Dreamliner to be delivered, entered service with flight JL407 from Tokyo/Narita [NRT/RJAA] to Frankfurt/Main [FRA/EDDF]. It departed Spot 62 in Terminal 2 at 1219 with a load of 159 passengers.

Boeing 787-8 JA837J Sky Suite 787 takes off from Narita bound for Frankfurt. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Fully lie-flat business class seats have been introduced for the first time on JAL's 787s (previously only angled lie-flat seats), while premium economy is also a first for their Dreamliners. Economy has been revamped as well, with new Sky Wider II seats installed. Seat count has been reduced to 161, comprised of 38 business, 35 premium economy, and 88 economy, the lowest-density 787 in commercial service to date. Even the Sky Suite 767s carry 199, including 24 in business and 175 in economy. JAL's previous 787-8s seated 186, with 42 in business and 144 in economy. Japan's second largest carrier believes higher revenue per seat will offset the reduction in capacity.

Lie-flat staggered business class seats on the Sky Suite 787. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Business class is in a six-abreast (2-2-2) staggered layout with direct aisle access from every seat while enhancing privacy. Personal in-flight entertainment (IFE) screens are 19 centimeters (7.6 inches) wider than those on previous 787s, opting for 23-inch monitors. Premium economy has been configured with 49-centimeter-wide (19.4 inches) seats at seven abreast (2-3-2). Retaining the design from the Sky Suite 777, the seats are of a fixed-back type, so the seat-back in front does not recline but instead the whole seat slides forward. Economy class is in a generous eight-abreast (2-4-2) layout, bucking the worldwide trend of nine abreast. Seats are 48 centimeters wide (19 inches) with a pitch of 84 centimeters (33 inches), five centimeters more than the current Dreamliners. Personal IFE monitors are 27-centimeters wide (10.6 inches).

Premium economy on the Sky Suite 787 is in a seven-abreast layout. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

IFE has been upgraded to MAGIC-VI and monitors are touch-controlled with swiping. In-flight wireless internet connection dubbed JAL Sky Wi-Fi will also be available from the end of 2014. Toilets in all classes will boast washlets, now one of Japan's modern icons. Previous 787s only had business class lavatories equipped with these butt-cleaning gadgets. Cabin LED lighting patterns will be set according to the season, for example with red and green to be featured for December.

JAL is staying with eight abreast for economy in the Sky Suite 787. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Aimed at "evoking a one-class higher feel," according to President Ueki Yoshiharu, JAL's first Sky Suite aircraft, a 777-300ER, entered service on the Narita – London/Heathrow [LHR/EGLL] route in January 2013, while the first re-configured 767-300ER was introduced on the Narita – Vancouver [YVR/CYVR] link in December 2013. The Sky Suite 777 seats eight in first, 49 in business, 40 in premium economy, and 135 in economy (232 total), while the Sky Suite 767 seats 24 in business and 175 in economy (199 total). JAL currently has all 13 777-300ERs along with nine 767-300ERs in this upgraded layout.

At least 10 upcoming Dreamliner deliveries will be configured with Sky Suite, including the stretched 787-9s. The next destination to see the service will be New York/John F. Kennedy [JFK/KJFK], starting on January 1st, 2015 with flights JL004/003. In contrast to archrival All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA], which has sadly (to frequent flyers) joined the flock of carriers with nine-abreast (3-3-3) economy (ANA takes 150th Boeing 787 delivery.), JAL is clearly going after the premium market for international routes.

Source: Japan Airlines. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, November 29th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, December 1st. (in Japanese)

JAL reveals Winter 2014/2015 international plans.

On September 5th, Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) announced their Winter 2014/2015 schedule effective October 26th. As rumored before, Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) – Los Angeles (LAX/KLAX) will be resumed (JAL to resume Kansai – Los Angeles in Winter 2014/2015.) on March 20th, but also Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG) – Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi (BKK/VTBS), which restarts from December 20th.

Boeing 787-8 JA825J takes off from Tokyo's Haneda Airport. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

In line with the award-winning product updates with the Sky Suite 777 and 767 (JAL adding more Sky Suite destinations.), Japan's second largest carrier will also introduce Sky Suite configuration on the Dreamliner, dubbed 'Sky Suite 787', starting with their 16th 787-8, JA837J. Premium economy will be introduced on the 787-8, reducing the seat-count from 186 (42 business and 144 economy) to 161 seats (38 business, 35 premium economy, and 88 economy). Economy will retain eight abreast (2-4-2), going against the worldwide trend of nine abreast and clearly differentiating themselves from ANA.

It will enter service on Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA) – Frankfurt/Main (FRA/EFFD) on December 1st, while Narita – New York/John F. Kennedy (JFK/KJFK) would be the second route to see the product from January 1st. Stretched 787-9s, the first handover of which is planned for early 2015, will also be configured in the Sky Suite layout from delivery, but whether to reconfigure earlier 787-8s is still under consideration.

New Routes/Resumptions (INTERNATIONAL):
Nagoya/Chubu Centrair – Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi NEW 1 daily with 787-8. *From 2014/Dec/20.
JL737 NGO 1030 – 1450 BKK 788 Daily *Operated with 767-300ER Dec/20-31.
JL738 BKK 2255 – 0620(+1) NGO 788 Daily *Operated with 767-300ER Dec/20-31.

Osaka/Kansai – Los Angeles NEW 1 daily with 787-8. *From 2015/Mar/20.
JL060 KIX 1520 – 0920 LAX 788 Daily *Mar/20-28.
JL060 KIX1740 – 1200 LAX 788 Daily *From Mar/29.
JL069 LAX 1120 – 1550(+1) KIX 788 Daily *Mar/20-28.
JL069 LAX1430 – 1900(+1) KIX 788 Daily *From Mar/29.

Equipment Changes (INTERNATIONAL):
Nagoya/Chubu Centrair – Shanghai/Pudong 737-800 replaces 767-300ER.
Osaka/Kansai – Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi 787-8 replaces 767-300ER. *From Dec/1.
Tokyo/Haneda – Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi JL033/032 777-200ER replaces 767-300ER. *From Dec/1.
Tokyo/Haneda – Beijing 787-8 replaces 767-300ER.
Tokyo/Haneda – San Francisco 777-300ER replaces 787-8. *From Dec/1.
Tokyo/Haneda – Taipei/Songshan JL097/098 777-200ER replaces 767-300ER. *From Dec/1.
Tokyo/Narita – Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi JL707/708 787-8 replaces 767-300ER. *From Dec/1.
Tokyo/Narita – Beijing JL869/860 737-800 replaces 767-300ER.
Tokyo/Narita – Delhi/Indira Gandhi 787-8 replaces 777-200ER. *From Dec/1.
Tokyo/Narita – Manila/Ninoy Aquino JL741/742 787-8 replaces 767-300ER. *From Dec/1.
Tokyo/Narita – Shanghai/Pudong JL877/874 737-800 replaces 767-300ER.
Tokyo/Narita – Sydney 777-300ER replaces 777-200ER. *From Dec/1.
Tokyo/Narita – Taipei/Taoyuan JL809/802 767-300ER replaces 737-800.

Frequency Reductions (INTERNATIONAL):
Tokyo/Narita – Moscow/Domodedovo from 4 to 3 weekly.
Tokyo/Narita – Seoul/Incheon from 2 to 1 daily, 767-300ER replaces 737-800.

Kansai – Los Angeles was suspended in October 2006, while Chubu Centrair – Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi was axed in October 2010. JAL has been saying that improving financial results and a recovering economy plus the availability of fuel-efficient aircraft (787s) are having the company consider restarting international routes from cities other than Tokyo, notably Osaka and Nagoya. JAL earlier announced timetable changes for Winter 2014/2015 in July (JAL re-times international flights in Winter 2014/2015.), while domestic plans were announced last month (JAL to terminate Narita – Okinawa.).

Reference: Japan Airlines, September 5th. (in Japanese)
Reference: Japan Airlines, September 5th. (in Japanese)

JAL re-times international flights in Winter 2014/2015.

From the Winter 2014/2015 timetable effective October 26th, Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) will be re-timing some international flights at both Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) and Narita (NRT/RJAA) airports to increase flight connection opportunities.

Boeing 767-346/ER(WL) JA617J Sky Suite 767 arrives at Haneda. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Haneda – Ho Chi Minh City/Tan Son Nhat (SGN/VVTS) will have its Haneda night arrival changed to a morning arrival, offering connections to all of JAL's domestic destinations from Haneda.

Flight Schedule (effective Oct/26/2014):
Haneda – Ho Chi Minh 1 daily with 767-300ER.
JL079 HND 0130 – 0550 SGN 76W Daily
JL070 SGN 2345 – 0655(+1) HND 76W Daily
 
Haneda – San Francisco (SFO/KSFO) will see its night arrival into Haneda moved to early morning, providing connections to all of their domestic flights as well as its seven flights to Asia from Haneda. Equipment will be up-gauged from a Boeing 787-8 to a Sky Suite 777-300ER, enhancing customer experience.

Flight Schedule (effective Dec/1/2014):
Haneda – San Francisco 1 daily with 777-300ER.
JL002 HND 0005 – 1625(-1) SFO 77W Daily
JL001 SFO 0035 – 0500(+1) HND 77W Daily

Narita – Boston (BOS/KBOS) will have its Narita morning departure moved to the evening, increasing cities connecting from Asia from seven to 15.

Flight Schedule (effective Oct/26/2014):
Narita – Boston 1 daily with 787-8.
JL008 NRT 1820 – 1650 BOS 788 Daily
JL007 BOS 1150 – 1535(+1) NRT 788 Daily

Narita – Ho Chi Minh City/Tan Son Nhat will see its early morning Narita arrival moved to the afternoon to reduce connection times for three North American routes from four to three hours. The number of possible connections reaches seven, including code-share flights with joint-venture (JV) and Oneworld partner American Airlines (AA/AAL).

Flight Schedule (effective Oct/26/2014):
Narita – Ho Chi Minh 1 daily with 767-300ER.
JL759 NRT 1755 – 2230 SGN 76W Daily
JL750 SGN 0810 – 1535 NRT 76W Daily

As reported before, JAL views Narita catering for Asia – North America connections and Haneda serving Tokyo and domestic – international connections.

Reference: Japan Airlines, July 24th. (in Japanese)

JAL to increase Narita - Jakarta to double daily.

Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) will add a second daily round-trip on the Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA) - Jakarta/Soukarno-Hatta (CGK/WIII) route from June 13th. The new flight will operate at evening hours from Narita and morning hours from Jakarta. JAL's refurbished 199-seat (24 business, 175 economy) Boeing 767-300ERs, branded 'Sky Suite 767', will serve the route (JAL adding more Sky Suite destinations.).

Boeing 767-346/ER JA601J at Honolulu. Being the first of the extended-range version for JAL, it will likely be converted to domestic configuration and not refurbished with the new 'Sky Suite 767' interior. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Flight schedule:
Narita - Jakarta from 1 to 2 daily with 77W/76W.
JL725 NRT 1050 – 1635 CGK 77W Daily
JL729 NRT 1855 – 0100(+1) CGK 76W Daily *NEW from June 13th.
JL720 CGK 0630 – 1600 NRT 76W Daily *NEW from June 14th.
JL726 CGK 2155 – 0725(+1) NRT 77W Daily

Archrival All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) also added a second daily Tokyo - Jakarta flight on March 30th (ANA's Summer 2014 international expansion.), but from more convenient Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT), while their first still originates in Narita. Garuda Indonesia (GA/GIA), which started code-sharing with ANA on March 30th, operates a daily B777-300ER service from the Indonesian capital to Narita, while Haneda will be launched on June 16th with Airbus A330-300s.

Source: Aviation Wire, April 8th. (in Japanese)

JAL's fleet strategies for 'Rolling Plan 2014'.

On March 27th, Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) released its 'Rolling Plan 2014', as part of their mid-to-long-term strategies for fiscal years 2012 - 2016.

Boeing 777-289 JA8978 'Ganbare Nippon!' supporting the national team for the Sochi 2014 Olympics/Paralympics. The decals were taken off in early March. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Nothing new regarding their upcoming network developments was revealed, including strengthening their dual international hubs at Tokyo's Haneda (HND/RJTT) and Narita (NRT/RJAA) airports (JAL announces Summer 2014 international plans.), while also planning to restart viable long-haul services from Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG) and Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) (JAL to resume Kansai to London and Los Angeles in 2015.), and relaunching regional domestic routes (JAL to resume six domestic routes for Summer 2014.), most of which were suspended during JAL's bankruptcy.

However, some new updates regarding its fleet plans have been provided. Deliveries of Boeing 787-9s, the first stretched variant of the Dreamliner, will start in fiscal year 2015, and the airline plans to have 33 Dreamliners by the end of fiscal year 2016. JAL has ordered 25 B787-8s and 20 B787-9s, of which 14 of the former have already been delivered. Meanwhile, the renewal of Japan Transocean Air's (NU/JTA) B737 'Classics' fleet will also start in fiscal year 2015. The Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH)-based subsidiary currently operates 13 B737-400s. All of JAL's 50 B737-800s ordered have now be delivered, so are additional orders on the way? Older B777s and B767s will gradually be retired, and the plan calls for a fleet of 82 international and 140 domestic aircraft (222 total) by fiscal year 2016's end. Preparations are also under way to introduce Airbus A350 XWBs from fiscal year 2019.

On the in-flight product side, JAL will start putting its award-winning 'Sky Suite' seats and interiors on its B787s delivered from fiscal year 2014. One additional B787-8 remains to be delivered this month for a total of 15, so maybe their 16th will have it? The stretched B787-9s will be configured with 'Sky Suite' from first delivery. Introduced on their flagship B777-300ERs in January 2013, 'Sky Suite' was expanded to selected B767-300ERs as 'Sky Suite II' in December 2013 and additional airframes are receiving the refurbishment (JAL adding more Sky Suite destinations.). New 'JAL Sky Next' revamped domestic aircraft are on schedule for July (JAL Sky Next new domestic product unveiled.) along with Japan's first domestic in-flight Wi-Fi service. Meanwhile, their international on-board Wi-Fi branded 'Sky Wi-Fi', which until now has only been offered on B777-300ERs, will be expanded to B777-200ERs, B767-300ERs, as well as B787s. Panasonic Avionics is powering the service with their eXConnect product (domestic Wi-Fi will be provided by Gogo), and tests revealed there aren't issues with the composite-built Dreamliner.

Archrival All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) only introduced limited Wi-Fi on some international aircraft just recently (ANA to offer in-flight Wi-Fi for international from March.), and has been repeatedly talking of technical difficulties, including issues providing the service on Dreamliners. JAL is taking the lead here, but again, ANA will likely complain about JAL's cost advantages gained during their government-led bankruptcy protection.

Source: Japan Airlines, March 27th. (PDF; 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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JAL adding more Sky Suite destinations.

Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) is expanding their new all-refurbished Sky Suite 777 and 767 product to additional cities in Asia, Europe, and North America.

JAL' new Sky Suite product. (Image: JAL)

Sky Suite Boeing 777-300ERs will now also be deployed on their Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA) - Chicago/O'Hare (ORD/KORD) starting on January 16th, and also on the Frankfurt/Main (FRA/EDDF) route starting in April. All 13 B777-300ERs are expected to be reconfigured by the end of 2014. Meanwhile, from mid-February the Sky Suite Boeing 767-300ERs, which are currently deployed to Vancouver (YVR/CYVR) and Kuala Lumpur/International (KUL/WMKK), will be introduced to Singapore/Changi (SIN/WSSS) on flights JL711 and JL710, to Hanoi/Noi Bai (HAN/VVNB) on flights JL751 and JL752, to Dalian (DLC/ZYTL) on flights JL827 and JL828, and to Seoul/Incheon (ICN/RKSI) on flights JL951 and JL954. Additional cities in Asia plus Hawaii are expected to be added later this year.

Aimed at 'evoking a one-class higher feel', JAL's first Sky Suite 777 entered service on Narita - London/Heathrow (LHR/EGLL) in January 2013, and the Sky Suite 767 on the Narita - Vancouver route in December 2013. In the new configuration, the B777-300ER seats 8 in first, 49 in business, 40 in premium economy, and 135 in economy (232 total), and the B767-300ER seats 24 in business and 175 in economy (199 total).

Source: Japan Airlines (in English)