Tag Archives: JAL-Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines goes “bland” with a nearly all-white new livery!

Japan Airlines-JAL (Tokyo) has issued the following statement concerning a new livery:

“The motif that will be used is of a soaring Japanese red-crown crane with its wings extended in full flight – an auspicious icon of Japan representing the high spirits of the Japanese people and their sensitive attention to detail. First registered as a trademark of Japan Airlines in August 1959, the circular crane mark was painted on the entire fleet during the period of JALโ€™s international network expansion. It stayed a main feature of the JAL livery for more than 40 years and became an unmistakable image representing Japan Airlines and the country it connected the world with. Bearing this mark on its aircraft, JAL displayed the uniqueness and progress of Japan to the world and it often invoked a sense of pride and familiarity in many Japanese as well as its loyal customers.

The symbol of the crane has come to be associated with the nationโ€™s distinct hallmarks of pristine quality and reliability. For customers, JAL is determined to safeguard these values of the Japanese culture and to continue reflecting its quintessential hospitality from the heart in the airlineโ€™s authentic services – a promise that is now embodied in the Groupโ€™s new corporate policy unveiled today.

The first aircraft to be painted with the new logo will be a Boeing 767-300 ER for international flights. With the exception of staff uniforms which will remain unchanged, corporate itemsย bearing the current logoย such as signage, name tags and stationery will gradually be phased out over the next few years.”

How uninspiring JAL! ย It is nice to see the crane return but how about some color on the fuselage? What do you think?

Image: JAL.

American Airlines takes Sabre to court (its previous offspring)

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) yesterday (January 10) filed a law suit in Texas against Sabre, its former spin-off.

The company issued the following statement:

“American filed a lawsuit in Texas state court in Tarrant Country against Sabre. The lawsuit alleges that Sabre’s recent actions taken against American, including the biasing of American’s services in all Sabre flight displays, violates agreements between American and Sabre and harms American, the travel agent community, and the traveling public.

Also, American today filed a request for a temporary restraining order prohibiting Sabre from continuing to bias its display of American flights. We are gratified that, after a contested hearing, the Court has granted American’s request for interim relief, to be in effect until the Court considers American’s request for longer term relief.

The Court’s order prohibits Sabre from continuing its recently announced practice of intentionally making it difficult for American’s agents and customers from finding and purchasing American services in the Sabre global distribution system. American intends to vigorously pursue its litigation against Sabre, including seeking damages for other violations of our agreements.”

In other news, American Airlines and JAL-Japan Airlines announced they have decided to commence their joint business from April 1, 2011, based on the expected start of revenue-sharing on applicable trans-Pacific flights. The airlines, after receiving regulatory approvals from the Japanese Government and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), are using a phased approach to bring more travel choices and greater benefits to consumers as quickly as possible and to maximize the value for stakeholders.

JAL-Japan Airlines will also co-locate in American’s Terminal 3 at Chicago O’Hare International Airport effective March 27, when Japan Airlines’ summer schedule begins.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Please click on photo for aircraft details.

JAL to retire its last Airbus A300 on March 26

JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo) is planning to retire its last Airbus A300 on March 26.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Please click on the photo for further details.

ABX Air is now flying for JAL Cargo

ABX Air (Wilmington, OH) is now flying cargo flights for JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo).

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Boeing 767-232 (SF) N745AX (msn 22222) arrives at Tokyo (Narita) with additional JAL stickers.

JALto operate the last Boeing 747 flight on February 28, 2011

JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo) has announced it will operate the last Boeing 747 flight on February 28, 2011.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Please click on the photo for additional details.

JAL Cargo retires the Boeing 747

JAL Cargo (JAL-Japan Airlines) (Tokyo-Narita) retired its last Boeing 747-400 freighter on November 1.

Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best. Please click on the photo for additional details.

American Airlines and JAL win anti-trust immunity from the DOT

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) and JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo) has won anti-trust immunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for their trans-Pacific partnership.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Please click on the photo for additional details.

JAL sells its last 19 Boeing 747-400s to AerSale

JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo) has sold its last 19 Boeing 747-400s to AerSale (Coral Gables). JAL is planning to retire the type during 2011.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen.

JAL to retire the last McDonnell Douglas DC-9-81 (MD-81) at the end of September

JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo) will be retiring the last McDonnell Douglas DC-9-81 (MD-81) (all ex-JAS) at the end of September. As a way of saying goodbye to the classic, JAL will conduct a “MD-81 Farewell Tour” on September 19-20. On the first day, the aircraft (registration is undecided at this time) will depart from Osaka (KIX) at 8:45 a.m. (0845), arriving at Oki (OKI) at 9:45 a.m. (0945). At Oki passengers will be able to walk around the tarmac to take photos of the aircraft. At 3 p.m. (1500), the airliner will leave Oki for Sapporo (CTS), arriving at 5 p.m. (1700). On the second day, the aircraft will leave CTS
at 7:45 a.m. (0745), arriving at OKI at 9:45 a.m. (0945). Passengers on the special flight will again be able to take photos, plus the aircraft will perform touch-and-go’s on this day. At 4:30 p.m. (1630) the airliner will leave OKI for KIX, arriving at 5:35 p.m. (1745). Tickets are being sold by JALTours.

In other retirement news, JAL quietly phased out its last three Boeing 767-200s. JA8231 was withdrawn from service in December 2009 and both JA8232 and JA8233 were withdrawn from scheduled service in March 2010 and became back-up equipment. JA8233 left the fleet on June 4, 2010 followed by JA8232 on June 11, 2010.

Copyright Photo: John Adlard. McDonnell Douglas DC-9-81 (MD-81) JA8553 (msn 53298) prepares to land at Fukuoka.

JAL to operate the last Boeing 747 flight in February

JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo) is quickly reducing its fleet. The final
747-400 (D) (domestic) flight will operate in October, while the international 747-400 aircraft will remain in service until February 2011. This drastic cut is being made possible by slashing routes and capacity
as well as a higher utilization of its Boeing 767-300s and 777s as the airline reorganizes.

JAL has been a long-time operator of the Boeing 747 (40 years). It took delivery of its first Boeing 747-146 (JA8101) on April 22, 1970.

Copyright Photo: Sam Chui. Boeing 747-446 JA8920 (msn 27648) once carried the special “Sammurai Blue 2006” livery. It is pictured departing from Sydney.