Newsworthy Photo of the Day – May 15, 2013
Southwest Air Lines-SWAL/JTA (Japan Transocean Air) Boeing 737-446 JA8999 (msn 29864) HND (Akira Uekawa). Image: 912016.
Copyright Photo: Akira Uekawa/AirlinersGallery.com.
Hot New Photos: 
JAL celebrates 30 Years of the Tokyo Disney Resort with a new “JAL Happiness Express” logojet
JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo) on March 29 introduced this 30th Anniversary logojet to help celebrate the success of the Tokyo Disney Resort. Boeing 777-246 JA8985 (msn 27652) at Tokyo (Haneda) is the first JAL aircraft to wear the special Disney livery. The titles proclaim Year 30 is The Happiness Year. JA8985 is named the “JAL Happiness Express”.
JAL will add five more Disney aircraft including one additional 777-200 domestic and four 737-800 domestic aircraft.
According to Wipipedia, The resort opened on April 15, 1983, as a single theme park (Tokyo Disneyland), but developed into a resort with two theme parks, three Disney hotels, six non-Disney hotels, and a shopping complex. Tokyo Disneyland was the first Disney theme park opened outside of the United States.
Copyright Photo: Shige Sakaki.
JAL-Japan Airlines: 
Solaseed Air leases two Boeing 737-800s from GECAS
Solaseed Air (Miyazaki) (formerly SNA-Skynet Asia Airways) has leased two new Boeing 737-800s from GE Capital Aviation Services Limited (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of GE.
Solaseed Air operates a fleet of 14 aircraft to seven destinations in Japan.
Copyright Photo: Akira Uekawa. Boeing 737-81D WL JA801X (msn 39415) arrives in Tokyo (Haneda).
Solaseed Air:
Japan Airlines considers ordering 20 Airbus A350s
Japan Airlines-JAL (Tokyo) has been a loyal Boeing customer. However the recent problems with the much-delayed Boeing 787 may have soured that relationship. According to Nikkei, the company is now considering an order from rival Airbus for 20 Airbus A350s and it will make a decision in June. However this may also be a ploy to get better terms and compensation from Boeing for the 787 delays. JAL is considering replacing its current Boeing 777-300 ERs with the new Airbus A350-100s for its European routes.
Read the full report from the Chicago Tribune: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Akira Uekawa. Boeing 777-346 JA8941 (msn 28393) approaches the Tokyo (Haneda) hub for landing.
JAL-Japan Airlines:
Japan Airlines to operate the last McDonnell Douglas MD-90 revenue flight on March 30
Japan Airlines-JAL (Tokyo) is planning to operate the last revenue flight of its McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 on March 30 after 17 years of service at JAS and JAL. The last flight will be from Hiroshima to Tokyo (Haneda) per Aviation Wire. The last flight is sold out.
Read the full report (in Japanese): CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 JA8070 (msn 53358) lands at Tokyo (Haneda).
JAL-Japan Airlines: 
ANA introduces its 60th Anniversary logojet
ANA-All Nippon Airways (Tokyo) today (February 23) introduced its 60th anniversary logojet named “Yume Jet – You and Me” (Dream Jet).
The company was established as the Japan Helicopter and Aeroplane Transports Company, Ltd. in December 1952. Helicopter services commenced in February 1953.
ANA Boeing 787-8 makes an emergency land at Takamatsu, ANA and JAL ground their 787s for safety checks
ANA (All Nippon Airways) (Tokyo) has reported a new incident involving one of its Boeing 787-8s. Boeing 787-8 JA804A (msn 34486) was operating domestic flight NH 692 from Ube to Tokyo (Haneda) when it was forced to make an emergency landing in Takamatsu, Japan today (January 16) after the flight crew received a cockpit message about battery problems. There was a reported burning smell in the cockpit and the cabin according to this report by Yahoo! News. Passengers and crew members evacuated the aircraft on landing.
Boeing and FAA continue their safety investigation into the on-going problems of the 787.
As a result, both ANA and JAL have voluntarily grounded their 787s for further safety checks. Other airlines, including United Airlines, continue to operate their 787s. The new 787 routes flown by both ANA and JAL have been suspended.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Sister-ship Boeing 787-8 JA807A (msn 34508) taxies across the ramp at Tokyo (Haneda).
ANA-All Nippon Airways: 
Bottom Copyright Photo: Shige Sakaki. The affected aircraft, Boeing 787-8 JA804A (msn 34486), arrives at Tokyo (Haneda).
Meanwhile ANA is celebrating its 60th Anniversary with a special new video:
Starflyer takes delivery of its first purchased A320 from Airbus
Starflyer (Kitakyushu) has taken delivery of its first ever directly purchased aircraft, an Airbus A320, during a delivery ceremony in Toulouse, France. A320-214 JA08MC (msn 5393) was handed over to the carrier on December 12.
The aircraft is the first of three A320s ordered by the company in 2011, and is powered by CFM56-5B4/P engines. It will accommodate 150 passengers in a single-class configuration.Starflyer will deploy the new aircraft to strengthen its network in Japan and to regional destinations.
Starflyer already operates an all-Airbus fleet of seven leased A320s, the first of which was delivered in Toulouse exactly seven years ago. With this aircraft, the airline’s fleet will rise to eight A320s, with another six to be delivered both via lease and direct purchase.
Starflyer commenced operations on March 16, 2006.
Copyright Photo: Shige Sakaki.Airbus A320-214 JA05MC (msn 4555) taxies across the airfield at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo. A “I fly KIX” sticker promotes Kansai International Airport near Osaka.
Starflyer: 
Frameable Color Prints and Posters: 
Air Do adds its first Boeing 737-700, introduces a new look
Air Do (Sapporo) has added its first Boeing 737-700. The pictured former ANA 737-781 JA01AN (msn 33916) was acquired on October 13, 2012. The airline took the opportunity to introduce this new livery with the new type. With the new color scheme the Japanese carrier has also dropped all previous references to Hokkaido International Airlines. “Do” is short for Hokkaido.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. JA01AN climbs away from Tokyo’s downtown airport, Haneda International Airport, today (November 2).
Air Do: 
Frameable Color Prints and Posters: 
Hot New Photos: 
JAL to start Tokyo Narita-Helsinki service on February 25, commences new 787 routes to Singapore
Japan Airlines (JAL) (Tokyo) has announced February 25, 2013 as the launch date for its inaugural service between Tokyo (Narita) and Helsinki.
Flight schedule of new Tokyo – Helsinki service, commencing on February 25, 2013:
| Flight Number | Route | Dep. Time | Arr. Time | Aircraft | Days of Operation |
| JL413 | Narita - Helsinki | 11:45 | 15:05 | 787-8 Business Economy | Mo, Tu, Th, Sa from February 25, 2013
Daily service planned for first half of FY2013. |
| JL414 | Helsinki - Narita | 17:25 | 10:15 + 1 |
・The above schedule is subject to government approval.
・The above timings may change after March 30, 2013 following the standard industry switch from winter to summer schedules.
・The increase in frequency to a daily service is subject to the delivery schedule of the 787-8.
In addition, JAL started Tokyo (Haneda)-Singapore and Tokyo (Narita)-Singapore 787 service on October 14. Both routes will be offered three days a week becoming daily service on October 28.
Copyright Photo: Akira Uekawa. The first Boeing 787 Dreamliner logojet. 787-8 JA828J (msn 38438) in the special “Sora wo Tobu” (Flying Sky) motif was also introduced on October 14. Designed by Studio Ghibil, the logojet features the art of seven children. JA828J is pictured pushing back from gate 114 of the International Terminal at Tokyo (Haneda) on a late night departure bound for Singapore as flight JL 35.
Hot New Photos: 
JAL-Japan Airlines: 
Japan Airlines to phase out the McDonnell Douglas MD-90s in March
Japan Airlines-JAL (Tokyo) is planning to phase out its last McDonnell Douglas MD-90. The pictured MD-90-30 JA8070 (msn 53358) is the only MD-90 in the JAL fleet to be repainted in the new 2011 Crane livery. JA8070 was repainted in October 2012. The last six MD-90s will be phased out by March 2013 and will be sold to Delta Air Lines. The airliner is pictured taxiing out to runway 05 at Tokyo (Haneda) as flight JL1883 bound for Miyazaki.
Copyright Photo: Akira Uekawa.
Hot New Photos: 
Japan Airlines: 
ANA adjusts the number of Boeing 787-9 aircraft on order
ANA (All Nippon Airways) has adjusted the number of Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners on order. The four 787-8s that were due to be delivered in fiscal year 2013 and onwards will now be replaced by four 787-9 aircraft. This will give ANA greater flexibility as it expands its international route network.
The total number of Dreamliners on order remains at 55 but now the order will be split at 36 787-8 and 19 787-9 aircraft. ANA has taken delivery of seven 787-8 Dreamliners. The new type has been assigned to domestic routes and also on the Tokyo (Haneda)-Frankfurt route. The carrier plans to launch new 787 service from Tokyo to both Seattle/Tacoma and San Jose, California in the current fiscal year.
Copyright Photo: Akira Uekawa.
ANA: 
Virgin America signs an interline agreement with Japan Airlines
Virgin America (San Francisco) has announced a new interline agreement with Japan Airlines (JAL) (Tokyo) offering travel on the networks of both carriers across their respective North American and Asian routes. Virgin America has grown to 18 destinations, a fleet of 52 new aircraft and more than 2,600 teammates since its launch in August 2007. In addition to the new JAL agreement, Virgin America has interline agreements with Virgin Australia Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Air New Zealand, Emirates Airline, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, South African Airways, El Al Israel Airlines, QANTAS Airways, China Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Air Pacific.
JAL offers daily service from Virgin America’s home base San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Tokyo-Haneda (HND) and daily nonstop service from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – a focus city for Virgin America – to JAL’s hub at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT), where travelers may connect onward to most major cities in Asia including Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai, and Taipei. In addition, JAL serves Narita from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and New York’s JFK. Both airlines will transfer baggage between connecting flights to guests’ final destinations.
Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C. (IAD), Seattle/Tacoma, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Orlando, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun, Chicago, Puerto Vallarta, Palm Springs (seasonally), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon) and – as of August 14, 2012 – Washington D.C.’s Reagan National (DCA).
Top Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum.
Virgin America: 
JAL: 
Bottom Copyright Photo: Akira Uekawa. 
JAL’s overhaul to be run by state-backed group
JAL-Japan Airlines Boeing 777-246 JA8984 (msn 27651) (Sky Eco) HND, originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo-Haneda) will be reorganized by a Japanese government-backed turnaround group overseeing the process. In addition JAL now plans to cut around 13,000 jobs.
News link:
finance.yahoo.com/news/Govtbacked-body-to-oversee-rb-2796122335.html?x=0&.v=1
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing.
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