Overview
Established in 1950, Japan Airlines presently operates from its headquarters at Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan, and has major hubs located at Narita International Airport, Kansai International Airport, Tokyo International Airport, and Osaka International Airport. The airline’s focus city is Chubu Centrair International Airport and it has several subsidiaries, including JALways, J-Air, JAL Express, Japan Air Commuter, Japan Transocean Air, Hokkaido Air System, and Ryukyu Air Commuter. With JAL Mileage Bank for its frequent flyer program and SAKURA Lounge for its member lounge, the airline has formed alliances with Oneword for its passenger flight services and with WOW for its cargo flight services.
Operating under the slogan of “Dream Skyward,” Japan Airlines has a fleet size of over 200 that travels to more than 125 destinations worldwide.
Company Profile and History
Do not confuse Japan Airlines with Air Japan because these are two separate airlines. Air Japan is actually solely a charter carrier.
Japan Airlines Corporation, JAL for short, is the flag carrier and national airline of Japan. One of the biggest airline companies all over Asia, the base for its international flights is Narita International Airport. Its domestic flights, meanwhile, has Tokyo International Airport as base. Japan Airlines operates both scheduled and nonscheduled flights for its domestic and international flight services to at least 125 destinations worldwide.
Japan Airlines’s roots can be traced back to October 1953 – the time when the government of Japan approved the creation and development of an airline owned by the state. The following year, 1954, the airline launched its first ever international operations, offering transpacific flights to America. After 30 years’ worth of service, Japan Airlines became privatized in 1987.
A merger of Japan Airlines and Japan Air System – the 3rd largest carrier in the country – took place in 2002. As of 2008, the airline has already transported an annual average of over 50 million passengers through its domestic and international flight services. The airline and its associated divisions has employed close to 18,000 employees as of 2007. The IATA’s Operational Safety Audit has also accredited the airline status for the safety practices it upholds.
Japan Airlines Passenger Fleet
The airline’s passenger fleet is comprised of several aircraft models. These include:
- Airbus: A300-600R
- Boeing: 737-400, 737-800, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 767-200, 767-300, 767-300ER, 777-200, 777-200ER, 777-300, 777-300ER, 787-3, and 787-8
- McDonnell Douglas: MD-81, and MD-90-30
- Embraer: Embraer 170
Japan Airlines Cargo Fleet
Unlike its passenger fleet, the airline’s cargo fleet is not comprised of several aircraft models. The fleet is mainly comprised of Boeing aircraft models. These include 747-400F, 747-200F, and 767-300F.
