More Boeing 787s; ANA's 24th and JAL's 13th.

Japan Airlines' (JL/JAL) 13th Dreamliner, Boeing 787-8 JA833J, was delivered to Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA) on January 9th as flight JL8101. It is JAL's first Charleston-built airframe.

ANA's Boeing 787-8 JA818A at Haneda in October 2013. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Meanwhile, ANA also took delivery of their 24th example, B787-8 JA824A, which arrived at Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) as flight NH9397 on January 10th. It is the first Charleston-born example for ANA as well. This is their 10th domestic version, with de-rated Rolls-Royce Trent 1000E engines, and will also become their last B787 to have the billboard '787' titles.

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)

Go-ahead for Naha's second runway.

On January 9th, Okinawa Prefecture and the Naha Port Authority announced that they have received approval from all related parties, including local fishermen's cooperatives, to build Naha Airport's (OKA/ROAH) second runway. It will be constructed on a yet-to-be-reclaimed artificial island off the shore of the airport. Construction is slated to begin in February, with completion planned for September 2019, and a March 2020 target for operations launch.

Naha's second runway will be built offshore. (Image: Japan MLIT)

The runway will be 2,700 meters long, with a width of 60 meters. The current runway is 3,000 meters. Cost of the project is calculated at 199.3 billion JPY. Naha saw a record 14.8 million passengers for domestic and 600,000 for international for fiscal year 2012. Presently, it is served by 145 domestic flights daily, 62 international flights weekly, and 60 cargo flights weekly, making the single-runway airport increasingly congested, causing delays more frequently. Okinawa is targeting 10 million annual tourists.

In October 2012, Naha became the first Japanese airport to open a dedicated LCC terminal, which is currently being used by Peach Aviation (MM/APJ) and Vanilla Air (JW/VNL). Growing Peach has designated Naha its second hub, with the particular aim of using Naha to funnel passengers between the main islands of Japan and southeast Asia. Strategically located, All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) also runs a scissors hub for its ANA Cargo operations here, connecting Japanese cities with other major destinations in Asia and providing next-day deliveries.

Source: Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) (in Japanese)

Encounter Japan Transocean Air's 'Sakura Jimbei'!

Up close and personal with Japan Transocean Air's (NU/JTA) second Jimbei Jet, Boeing 737-446 JA8992 'Sakura Jimbei', which entered service on January 5th (Japan Transocean Air introduces 'Sakura Jimbei'.). According to JTA, she is the girlfriend of the first Jimbei Jet, Boeing 737-4Q3 JA8939 'Jinta'.

A tug and baggage vehicle were also painted in the same design. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Jimbei translates to whale shark, or Rhincodon typus. In collaboration with Okinawa's renowned Churaumi Aquarium, the two aircraft will ply the Japanese skies until December 2017.

Sakura Jimbei's belly has a baby shark! (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Along with Jinta, Sakura Jimbei's next-day schedule is released on JTA's website (in Japanese only).

Source: Aviation Wire, January 5th. (in Japanese)

ANA releases B747 Osaka 'Okaeri! Jumbo' schedule.

All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) today released the schedule of its 'Okaeri! Jumbo' flight that will take place at Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO) this upcoming weekend on January 12th.  

ANA's 'Final 747: Thanks Jumbo!' website image. (Image: ANA)

'Okaeri' translates to 'welcome back'. As part of ANA's 'Final 747: Thanks Jumbo!' series of events commemorating the retirement of the B747, the airline is bringing back the 565-seat jumbo jetliner to Itami for the first (and will be the last) time since March 31st, 2006, when tri-jets and quad-jets were banned from the airport to reduce noise footprint. The airline obtained a one-day quad-jet permission from the local governments for this purpose.

One of its two remaining Boeing 747-400Ds will be ferried from Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) to Itami, departing at 0610 and arriving at 0720 local time. As well as photo opportunities, ANA is planning a sightseeing flight for 400 locals chosen from applications from fans living in the nearby cities of Ikeda, Itami, Kawanishi, Takarazuka, and Toyonaka. The flight will leave Itami at 1400 and return to the same airport at 1530. After a ceremony, the B747-400D will be ferried back to Haneda, leaving Itami at 1845 and arriving back at the Tokyo airport at 1955. 

Source: All Nippon Airways (in Japanese)

Holiday season load factors; LCCs nearly 90%.

Japanese carriers have released this winter holiday season's (December 20th - January 5th) load factors (L/F). Helped by a new year that came on Wednesday, many were off from work for nine days which led to more people traveling, and resulted in higher load factors for most carriers compared to last year. Low-cost carriers (LCCs) Jetstar Japan (GK/JJP), Peach Aviation (MM/APJ), and Vanilla Air (JW/VNL) stand out with around 90%.

International routes: ANA Group 79.2%, JAL Group 82.9%, Peach Aviation 87.8%, Star Flyer (7G/SFJ) 72.2%, and Vanilla Air 95.1%.
 
Domestic routes: ANA Group 69.1%, JAL Group 71.3%, AIRDO (HD/ADO) (d.b.a. Air Do) 76.6%, Jetstar Japan 88.3%, Peach Aviation 87.5%, Skymark Airlines (BC/SKY) 68.2%, Skynet Asia Airways (d.b.a. Solaseed Air) (6J/SNJ) 69.4%, Star Flyer 81.1%, and Vanilla Air 87.8%.

Source: Aviation Wire (in Japanese only)

ANA retires JA8966; only two B747-400Ds remain.

All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) today flew Boeing 747-481/D JA8966's last revenue flight, touching down at Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) at 2150 local time as flight NH136 from Naha/Okinawa (OKA/ROAH). It was sitting at Haneda as back-up equipment for today, however, due to the delay in arrival of NH126 into Haneda, JA8966 was deployed on NH137 to Naha.

Boeing 747-481/D JA8966 at Fukuoka in August 2012. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The aircraft was delivered new from Boeing in December 1995 and has been plying Japanese skies on trunk domestic routes ever since. It was the aircraft involved in the hijacking of flight NH61, service from Haneda to Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC), on July 23, 1999. Captain Nagashima was killed by the hijacker, who has been sentenced to lifetime imprisonment. After final maintenance checks, which start tomorrow, JA8966 is expected to be ferried to Tupelo (TUP/KTUP) in Mississippi, U.S.A. for part-out by aircraft-recycling firm Universal Asset Management, as with previous B747-400Ds retired from ANA.

On January 12th, as part of ANA's 'Final 747: Thanks Jumbo!' series of events commemorating the retirement of the B747, the airline will bring back the 565-seat jumbo jetliner to Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO) for the first time since March 31st, 2006, when tri-jets and quad-jets were banned from the airport to reduce noise footprint. ANA is planning a sightseeing flight and photo opportunities for local enthusiasts, and the airline obtained a one-day quad-jet permission for this purpose.

JA8966's departure leaves ANA with just two B747-400Ds: JA8960 and JA8961. The final revenue flight is planned for March 31st on a Haneda - Naha round-trip. ANA will also deploy the type one last time on the Haneda - Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) and Haneda - New Chitose routes one day before on March 30th.

The final countdown has begun...

Japan Transocean Air introduces 'Sakura Jimbei'.

As planned, Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH)-based Japan Transocean Air (NU/JTA) today introduced the second Jimbei Jet, nicknamed 'Sakura Jimbei', the second special livery in collaboration with Okinawa's famous Churaumi Aquarium, on one of their 13 Boeing 737-400s. Jimbei translates to whale shark, or Rhincodon typus. The first revenue flight with these colors was NU565, service from Naha to Miyako (MMY/ROMY).

Sakura Jimbei. (Image: JTA)

B737-446 JA8992, which began its career with Japan Airlines in 1994 and migrated to JTA after serving JAL Express (JC/JEX) from 1998 to 2011, was chosen for the livery. The aircraft was painted in Taiwan and delivered to Naha on January 3rd.

JA8992's belly design. (Image: JTA)

Along with the first Jimbei Jet, B737-4Q3 JA8939, which is painted blue and was introduced in December 2012, the pink whale shark will swim around Japanese skies until December 2017. It is expected that JTA will release the next day's schedule of Sakura Jimbei on their website, as has been the case with the original Jimbei Jet and the SWAL Retrojet (B737-446 JA8999).

JTA and Churaumi Aquarium's official logo for the Jimbei Jets. (Image: JTA)

Look carefully... she has two baby whale sharks on her belly!

Skymark starts selling Green Seats.

On January 1st, Skymark Airlines (BC/SKY) started selling 'Sky Bargain 60' tickets, which are promotional fares that can be purchased up to 60 days prior to the travel date. It is now available for travel from June 1st onwards.

At the same time, Skymark has started selling tickets for its all-premium 271-seat Airbus A330s that will start service at the end of March. Called 'Green Seats', these are more like premium economy and akin to Japan Airlines' (JL/JAL) Class-J product. 'Green' was chosen since the Shinkansen's (Japanese bullet train) business class seats are called Green Class, which caters mostly for business travelers, and it represents Skymark's increased focus on the premium market. A one-way Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) - Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) Green Seat ticket bought with Sky Bargain 60 has been fixed at 7,800JPY to 10,900JPY, whereas JAL's Class-J bought 60 days in advance costs around 13,070JPY to 20,570JPY.

Sky Bargain 60 for other routes include Haneda - Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC) from 7,800JPY to 11,900JPY and Haneda - Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) from 8,800JPY to 13,900JPY, which are almost half of what one would pay for a similar service with All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) or JAL.

For the first time, Skymark will also introduce a mileage program, though plans have been delayed from the planned January launch. Its first Airbus A330-300, JA330A, is currently undergoing test flights in France in preparation for delivery later this month. 

Source: Aviation Wire (in Japanese)

Skymark to add more cities from Sendai and Yonago?

According to the Nikkei, Skymark Airlines (BC/SKY) is planning to adjust its domestic-only network after they place Japan's first Airbus A330-300 into service at the end of March.

The lucrative Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) - Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) route will be the first to see the A330, however, as its all-premium (more like premium economy and akin to JAL's Class-J product) 271-seat capacity would still be a 53% increase over the all-economy 177-seat Boeing 737-800s the airline flies today, they plan to reduce the frequency of this route from 11 round-trips to nine, freeing up two slots at heavily-regulated Haneda. Skymark intends to use these slots to open up Haneda - Yonago (YGJ/RJOH) with two daily round-trips.

Skymark will introduce 10 Airbus A330s by the end of 2015. (Image: Airbus)

In the second half of this year, the A330s will be deployed on Haneda - Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH), and for this route the current frequency of five daily will be retained. Skymark intends to add additional routes from its new focus cities of Sendai (SDJ/RJSS) in northeastern Japan and Yonago in western Honshu; from Sendai to Kobe (UKB/RJBE), another Skymark focus city, and from Yonago to Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC), Haneda (mentioned above), and Naha. The airline already operates Sendai to New Chitose and Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF), and Yonago to Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA), Kobe, and Ibaraki (IBR/RJAH), via Kobe. Operations at Yonago were only launched on December 20th, 2013, and until their entry, the airport's sole domestic connection was to Haneda with All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA).

Skymark has been stating that the A330s will free-up B737s that would be used to open up new domestic point-to-point markets, where either an ANA or JAL monopoly has kept fares high or the big two's costs are too high to make the market viable. Stay tuned for official announcements.

Source: Nikkei Shimbun (in Japanese)

CoachFlyer JL815: KIX - TPE on Japan Airlines' Boeing 737.

Travel date: December 2013
Flight: JL815
Route: Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) - Taipei/Taoyuan (TPE/RCTP) 
Carrier: Japan Airlines (JL/JAL)

Aircraft: Boeing 737-846(WL) JA312J
Class: Economy

Direct distance: 1,702 km (1,058 miles)

Flight time: 3 hours 2 minutes

Boarding for Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) flight JL815 started at 1825 at Osaka/Kansai's (KIX/RJBB) Gate 29 in Terminal 1. With everyone heading outside the country to spend a long new-year holiday, it was a full flight. Doors were closed at 1844, and push-back started at 1847, three minutes before scheduled departure time. We took off from Runway 06R at 1859, banking to the left and heading south along the coast of Japan.

Boeing 737-846(WL) JA312J at the gate at Kansai. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

JAL's Boeing 737-800s configured for international services seat 12 in business class with Skyluxe seats and 132 in economy. All seats are equipped with personal monitors running on JAL's MAGIC-IV audio-visual-on-demand (AVOD) entertainment system. Of JAL Group's 55-strong B737-800 fleet, nine are in this layout, serving regional Asian routes to China, South Korea, and Taiwan.

About 11 minutes after takeoff, the seat-belt signs were turned off and the flight attendants started preparing for in-flight service. JL815 had five crews; three Japanese and two Taiwanese. Meal service began about 40 minutes into the flight, followed by the Captain Mori's announcement. Dinner included prawn fritter with chili sauce served on rice, plus a 'Kansai Gozen' box, comprised of corn vegetable salad, marinated Eringi mushroom, sliced bacon, diced smoked salmon, mini hamburg (meat patty), and kiwi fruit and pineapple. Dessert was a custard pudding. Taste was fine, especially for the Kansai Gozen, but proportions were a bit small. The flight attendants went through the aisle serving beverages more than once, but didn't seem to smile often enough.

Dinner. The box is the Kansai Gozen. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

After the meal trays were collected, duty-free sales began. It was a relatively smooth flight, though with clouds beneath, nothing could be seen. We flew southbound west of the Okinawa islands, until about two hours and a half into the flight, when the aircraft started its descent into Taiwan's Taoyuan Airport (TPE/RCTP). Seat-belt signs were turned on 10 minutes later. We passed the airport on our left, then making a sharp turn to the left for a touchdown on Runway 05L at 2101 local time (Taiwan is one hour behind Japan). We arrived at Gate D7 in Terminal 2 at 2105, 10 minutes before scheduled arrival time. A long line awaited for us for immigration, but we were through in 20 minutes. Our suitcases had already arrived at the carousel.

Taoyuan Airport, the international gateway serving Taiwan's capital Taipei, is located 40 km from downtown, and we caught one of the frequent buses connecting the airport with the city. After a 70-minute drive, we had arrived at Taipei Main Station. Taipei's older airport located in downtown, Songshan (TSA/RCSS), caters for domestic flights plus some cross-strait flights to China, as well as business-oriented routes to Seoul/Gimpo (GMP/RKSS) and Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT).

ANA and JAL's First Sunrise Flights.

Happy New Year to all of our readers! I would like to give warm regards and best wishes for a healthy and happy year ahead.

Both domestic majors operated so-called First Sunrise Flight charters, or special early-morning flights on January 1st, which place passengers in the vicinity of Mt. Fuji just as the sun is starting to come up. These sightseeing flights return to the same respective departure airports.

All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) operated two flights from Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT); NH2001 with Boeing 747-481/D JA8961 and NH2014 with Boeing 777-281/ER JA715A, and two flights from Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG); NH2611 with Boeing 767-381 JA8569 and NH2020 with Boeing 737-881 JA57AN. Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) operated two from Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA); JL4901 with Boeing 767-346/ER JA612J and JL4903 with Boeing 737-846 JA304J, and one from Haneda; JL2611 with Boeing 767-346 JA8988. JAL Group's other flights were J-Air's (XM/JLJ) XM3955 from Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) with Embraer ERJ170-100STD JA221J and Japan Transocean Air's (NU/JTA) NU2014 from Chubu Centrair with Boeing 737-4Q3 JA8939.

This would be the last time the Boeing 747-400D is used for the occasion, as the remaining three examples with ANA are slated for retirement by March. JA8966 is the next to be phased out at the end of January, and JA8960 and JA8961 will be the last two. The 565-seat aircraft currently only serves the Haneda - Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) and Haneda - Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC) routes.