History of Japan Airlines

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Old Japan Airlines (1923-1939)

The 1920s

1923 to 1928

The beginnings of the forerunners of today's Japanese airline Japan Airlines go back to 1923. In January 1923 the "Tozai Teiki Kokukwai (TKK)" was the first airline in Japan to start civilian flight operations. In April 1925, the first airline named "Japan Air Lines (JAL)" was founded. In September 1928, the "Nihon Kōkū Kabushiki Kaisha (NKKK)" begins flight operations in Tokyo .

1929

On April 1, 1929, these three airlines merged to form "Nihon Kōkū Kabushiki Kaisha (NKKK)" based in Tokyo. As air traffic increases in Japan in the late 1920s, it is decided to build a large airport in Tokyo . Only with the opening of the new airport in 1931 (later called Tokyo-Haneda ) did the airline get a corresponding home base.

The 1930s

1936 to 1939

A Dai Nippon Kōkū (Imperial Japanese Airways) flight attendant distributes drinks, around 1940
Cover page of the flight plan from December 1938 to March 1939

From 1936 twin-engine Nakajima AT-2, a Japanese licensed construction of the Douglas DC-2 , are used for the first time. Nakajima built a total of five DC-2s under license until 1937, before production was switched to the DC-3. From 1938 to 1939, 24 Mitsubishi G3M2 reconnaissance aircraft of the Japanese Air Force were converted into civil aircraft and added to the Nihon KKK fleet. These planes offer space for 8 passengers each and are equipped with 2 engines, each 900 HP, the cruising speed is 280 km / h, the maximum range of 3500 km is already considerable for that time. As early as 1937, such a converted Mitsubishi G3M2 had been used as a civilian prototype for the first time in the one-time seasonal liner service on the Tokyo to London route (on the so-called silk route ), with three intermediate stops. The flight time was 51 hours.

In December 1938 Nihon Kōkū KK is nationalized and merged with the Manchuria Aviation Company . It changes its name to "Dai-Nippon Kōkū Kabushiki Kaisha" (English Imperial Japanese Airways), which means "airline of the Japanese Empire". The route network is already very extensive, with flights to all main Japanese islands from the home airport in Tokyo-Haneda as well as Okinawa, Formosa (today's Taiwan), Hong Kong, Korea and Manchuria (northeastern China, occupied by Japan since 1931 ).

From the beginning of 1938 to the end of 1939, 20 new American Douglas DC-3s were also delivered to Japan by ship. At the same time, the Japanese manufacturer Nakajima acquired the license rights for the production of the DC-3 aircraft type from Douglas in 1938 and was able to hand over the first DC-3 completely built in Japan to Dai Nippon KKK at Tokyo-Haneda Airport on September 30, 1938 .

World War II and post-war period

During the Second World War , civil air traffic in Japan was very limited. A large part of the civil aircraft was also used as a transporter by the Japanese armed forces and ended up as a total loss through being shot down or through American air raids on Japanese airports and bases - similar to the aircraft of Deutsche Lufthansa on the European theater of war until 1945.

1940s

1940 to 1941

By 1941 about 30 more DC-3s were built by Nakajima and handed over to the airline. At the beginning of the war in the Pacific with the attack by Japanese forces on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the Dai Nippon Kōkū KK owned a fleet of about 100 mainly twin-engine airliners. It was the largest airline in Asia at the time.

1945

With the Japanese surrender after the end of the fighting in the Pacific on September 2, 1945, all flight operations came to a standstill. Most of the civil planes were destroyed in World War II and there was also a lack of aircraft fuel .

Furthermore, all flight operations by Japanese aircraft were prohibited by Allied orders. In addition, Japanese citizens were not allowed to fly airplanes or set up an airline .

New establishment and resurgence

The 1950s

1951

Several flight attendants of the new Japan Air Lines pose in front of a
Martin 2-0-2 on October 25, 1951

The new "Japan Air Lines" was founded on August 1, 1951 under the name "Japan Air Lines Co. Ltd." by private businessmen with a capital of 100 million yen. The first unofficial flights began on August 23, 1951 with a Douglas DC-3 chartered by Philippine Air Lines . Regional flight service was officially started on October 10, 1951 on the Tokyo Haneda to Osaka route with three Martin 2-0-2 leased and operated by Transocean Air Lines . At the same time, Transocean Air Lines trained the future Japanese crews. From the end of 1951 two further twin-engine propeller planes of the type Martin 2-0-2, including American pilots, were rented and used. Japan Air Lines employed 298 people at the time.

1952

In 1952, Japan Air Lines bought the pre-war state airline "Dai Nippon Kōkū Kabushiki Kaisha". In early 1952, Northwest Airlines hired two more Martin 2-0-2. On April 9, 1952, the still young airline suffered the first setback when a Martin 2-0-2 crashed and all occupants were killed. On July 1, 1952, Japan Air Lines founded the "Japan Aircraft Maintenance Company" (JAMCO) as a subsidiary. She is responsible for the complete maintenance and repairs of aircraft. In July 1952, three single-engine training aircraft of the Beechcraft Mentor type were acquired by Japan Air Lines for pilot training .

At the end of October 1952, the four Martin 2-0-2 were taken out of service and returned to Northwest Airlines. On October 25, 1952, the first of a total of eleven Douglas DC-4s (JA6001), some of which were purchased by Northwest Airlines , were used in scheduled service, with Japanese crews being allowed to fly the machines again for the first time. This was made possible by the peace agreement of San Francisco between Japan and the Allies signed on September 8, 1951 and entered into force on April 28, 1952 . This made Japan an independent state again.

1953

The existence of the private company was threatened by plans by the Japanese government to found a new state airline and transfer all international flights to it. In consultation with the shareholders of Japan Air Lines, it was decided instead to nationalize the private company. For this purpose, the Japanese parliament passed the so-called Japan Air Lines Act on August 1, 1953 , in which the establishment of a state airline of the same name (Nippon Kōkū KK) was decided, which was equipped with a share capital of 2000 billion yen. The private airline went on October 1, 1953 in the new state company, which continued operations under the previous name Japan Air Lines.

On September 15, 1953, the first Douglas DC-6 (JA6201) reached the fleet. It was named "City of Tokyo". From October 2, 1953, the Douglas DC-6A / B came into use, with these machines initially serving the domestic route Tokyo - Sapporo .

1954

The Douglas DC-6 with the name "City of Nara" in March 1954 at the San Francisco International Airport

On February 4, 1954, Japan Air Lines became a member of IATA . On the same day, the new Douglas DC-6 opened the first international route of Japan Air Lines from Tokyo via Wake Island and Honolulu, Hawaii, to San Francisco (Pacific route) . From February 5, 1954, the route Tokyo - Okinawa - Hong Kong was served.

1955

From November 1, 1955, Japan Air Lines flew the Tokyo - Hong Kong route as a direct flight. On December 15, 1955, she ordered her first jet aircraft with four Douglas DC 8-32 aircraft .

1956

The Tokyo - Bangkok route was opened on October 4, 1956.

1957

On March 1, 1957, Japan Air Lines founded the subsidiary "Airport Ground Service Company (AGS)". From December 23, 1957, the more powerful and larger Douglas DC-7 Cs joined the JAL fleet. The first machine (JA6301) was named "City of San Francisco" in Tokyo-Haneda.

1958

On February 12, 1958, the Douglas DC-7C was used for scheduled service on the Tokyo - San Francisco route. Along with the Lockheed L-1649 Starliners, these machines represented the high point of the commercial aircraft with piston engines and propeller drives of that time.

1959

On February 1, 1959, Japan Air Lines opened a new crew training center at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. On May 2, 1959, the first freighter-only service was established on the Tokyo - San Francisco route with a DC-7CF, from May 28, 1959 from Tokyo to Los Angeles via Honolulu (Pacific route) and from June 27, 1959 to Tokyo Seattle via Anchorage, Alaska ( Polar Route ) .

The now age begins

The 1960s

1960

The Douglas DC-8 with the name "Yoshino" in August 1965 at Hamburg Airport

Even before the first jet airliner was delivered to Japan Air Lines, the airline ordered three more four- engine jet aircraft on April 13, 1960 , this time of the Convair CV-880 . The first jet aircraft of Japan Air Lines was the Douglas DC- 8-32 (JA 8001), which was delivered on July 16, 1960 and was christened "Fuji". The DC-8-32 was used from August 12, 1960 on the route between Tokyo and San Francisco (Pacific route) . It was Japan Air Lines' first jet connection. A total of up to 1973 50 Douglas DC-8-32 and DC-8-33, DC-8-55 and DC 8-55AF (freighter), DC-8-61, DC 8-62 and DC 8-62F in Put into operation.

1961

On May 4, 1961, the only Douglas DC-8-33 (JA8006) was delivered to Japan Air Lines. On June 6, 1961, the Tokyo polar route via Anchorge, Alaska to Copenhagen, Paris and London was opened with the DC-8-32. From October 1, 1961, the first three of a total of nine four - engine Convair CV-880 jets (JA8021 to JA8023) came into operation.

1962

The first Douglas DC 8-53 (JA8007) was delivered to Japan Air Lines on March 26, 1962. On October 4, 1962, the silk route between Japan and Europe via Southeast Asia and the Middle East to Rome, London and Frankfurt was inaugurated with the Convair 880.

1963 to 1964

In 1963, Japan Air Lines took over the important subsidiary Japan Aircraft Maintenance Company (JAMCO), founded in 1952, with 3,000 employees and continued it as an internal department within the company. The last Douglas DC-4 was taken out of service in 1964.

1965

The ninth and final Convair CV-880 (JA8030) was delivered to Japan Air Lines on January 4, 1965. On March 5, 1965, the first Douglas DC-8-55 (JA8014) went into service. On August 1, 1965, the first of twelve Boeing 727-046 for short and medium-haul routes on the Tokyo - Fukuoka route went into operation. It was also the first Boeing aircraft for Japan Air Lines. On October 1st, the new JAL logo was introduced, the "Tsuru", a Japanese crane on a red circle. However, it was not until the beginning of 1970 that this logo also adorned the aircraft's vertical stabilizers in full size. On September 30, 1963 Japan Air Lines ordered three copies of the Concorde . However, the order was canceled in 1973 due to the oil crisis.

1966

In September 1966, Japan Air Lines was the third customer to order three Boeing Jumbo Jet aircraft, which previously only existed on the drawing board. At the end of 1966, New York was also served for the first time from Tokyo via Honolulu and San Francisco.

1967

A Tupolev Tu-114 from Aeroflot with the JAL logo

Japan Air Lines introduced their computerized ticket and booking system JALCOM in 1967. In April 1967, she ordered three more Boeing 747s. Supported by Aeroflot , Japan Air Lines took up scheduled service on April 17, 1967 on the Tokyo - Moscow route . Initially, the long-haul turboprop aircraft Tupolev Tu-114 was used and later replaced by the Ilyushin Il-62 . Aeroflot also provided the aircraft crew; only the cabin crew were JAL stewardesses. On June 20, 1967, Japan Air Lines founded its first subsidiary, Southwest Air Lines (SWAL), based in Okinawa. She operated the liner service from Okinawa to Japan.

1968

The first Douglas DC-8 Super 62 (JA8031) was delivered to Japan Air Lines on April 19, 1968, and two more Boeing 747s were ordered in November. At the end of 1968, Japan Air Lines opened a pilot training and training center for jet aircraft in Moses Lake , Washington (USA). Three Dassault Falcon are used as training aircraft .

1969

Japan Air Lines received its last Boeing 727-046 in January 1969. Another machine originally ordered was not accepted by JAL. On February 20, 1969, the first Douglas DC-8 Super 61 (JA8038) is delivered to Japan Air Lines. It is their largest type of aircraft to date. On March 30, 1969, with the retirement of the last Douglas DC-6B, the era of fan guns on medium and long-haul flights at Japan Air Lines ended. Since then, twin-engine fan guns have only been used by the JAL subsidiary airlines for short-haul and commuter service. In November 1969, Japan Air Lines ordered its ninth jumbo jet.

The era of the wide-body jets

The 1970s

1970

Boeing 747-200B at Osaka-Itami Airport around 1980

On March 28, 1970, the first flight on the Siberia route (Tokyo - Moscow - Paris) is carried out with its own DC-8. Japan Air Lines is the first foreign airline allowed to fly on this route with its own aircraft. The first flight to London via Moscow followed on June 2, 1970. The first wide-body aircraft from Japan Air Lines is the Boeing 747-146, of which the first (JA8101) of the three ordered in September 1966 will be delivered on April 22, 1970 and on July 1, 1970 the scheduled service from Tokyo via Honolulu to San Francisco / Los Angeles picks up.

The first of a total of nine Douglas DC-8 Super 61s bought or leased by Eastern Air Lines will be put into regular service with Japan Air Lines. In June 1970 she ordered two more Boeing 747s and another five in October 1970. This means that a total of 16 jumbo jets have been ordered to date and three of them have already been delivered.

After only five to nine years of operation, the last Convair CV-880 machine was taken out of service in December 1970. It no longer meets the requirements and is inferior to the competitor model Douglas DC-8 (especially the Super 61 and 62 version).

1971

On February 11, 1971, the Boeing 747-246B (JA8104), the first machine of the improved version of the jumbo jet, went into operation. Another two machines of this type follow in the same year.

1972

Three Douglas DC-8s alone are lost in accidents within just five months (June to November). Japan Air Lines is putting a total of eight new Boeing 747s into operation this year and is ordering a further 6 jumbo jets from Boeing, including five 747 SR146s for domestic service for the first time.

1973

On July 23, 1973, the four-month-old Boeing 747-246B (JA8109) was hijacked by Arab terrorists during a flight from Amsterdam to Tokyo and a hand grenade detonated on board. The heavily damaged aircraft then has to land in Benghazi , Libya. After the passengers and crew leave the plane, the terrorists blow it up.

On October 7, 1973, the first Boeing 747-146SR (JA8117) for domestic flights by Japan Air Lines, designed for 545 passengers. On December 6, 1973, she ordered her first six DC 10-40 aircraft from McDonnell Douglas. Six 747s are ordered from Boeing, including the first 747 freighter.

1974

Japan Air Lines decommissioned the last Douglas DC-8-32 in July and commissioned its first Boeing 747-200F freighter on October 1, 1974.

1975

For political reasons, the subsidiary Japan Asia Airways was founded on August 8, 1975 to commence air traffic from Japan to Taiwan. It is the second JAL subsidiary after SWAL. The People's Republic of China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, made it a condition in negotiations for future flight connections between Japan and China that Japan Air Lines would not be allowed to fly to Taiwan under its own name. With the establishment of Japan Asia Airways, the connection to Taiwan was now possible.

1976

Japan Asia Airways DC-10 at Osaka-Itami Airport around 1990

On July 1, 1976, JAL put the first of six McDonnell Douglas DC- 10-40s (JA 8530) into service. This type is the company's second wide-body aircraft after the Boeing 747 and is used in the long-haul (DC 10-40 I) and short-haul version (DC 10-40 D). The aircraft are gradually replacing the older Douglas DC-8s.

1977

In September 1977, Japan Air Lines received back from Boeing the first jumbo jet converted from a passenger version into a pure freighter. Two more McDonnell Douglas DC-10s are also ordered.

1978

Japan Air Lines ordered four jumbo jets for delivery in 1979. On May 26, 1978, the JAL subsidiary Southwest Air Lines received its first jet aircraft with the Boeing 737-2Q3 Advanced (JA8443). On June 7, 1978, the 100 millionth JAL passenger was carried. In December 1978 all international flights from Japan Air Lines were relocated from the previous Tokyo Haneda Airport to the newly built Narita International Airport .

1979

This year Japan Air Lines ordered 18 wide-body aircraft, 10 Boeing 747s and 8 McDonnell Douglas DC-10s. Six new jumbo jets will also be put into operation.

The 1980s

Boeing 747-300SR at Osaka-Itami Airport around 1990; JAL was the only customer for this version

1980

On March 7, 1980, Japan Air Lines became the first international airline allowed to fly to the Chinese capital Beijing with wide-body aircraft (DC-10).

1981

On April 10, 1981, the 100 millionth passenger is carried on a JAL domestic flight.

1982

Acquisition of a former Pan American World Airways Boeing 747 freighter. This is the first time that a jumbo jet that has not been ordered by the airline has entered the fleet.

1983

In March 1983 the twentieth and final McDonnell Douglas DC-10 (JA8549) is delivered to JAL. Japan Air Lines orders ten Boeing 767-200 and 767-300 aircraft in September. JAL is the first customer for the extended version 767-300. In November and December 1983, the first two Boeing 747-346s (JA812J and JA813J) with an extended upper deck were put into operation at Japan Air Lines.

1984

The "JAL Hotels Company" has been operating under the new name "Nikko Hotel Company" since September 1, 1984.

On July 28 of this year, the SkyShip 500 -05 (JA1003) built in May 1984 was sold to Japan Airship Services (JAS), a division of Japan Air Lines.

1985

Boeing 767-200 in November 1985

On February 4, 1985, the fiftieth Boeing Jumbo jet was handed over to Japan Air Lines in Seattle. In June 1985 the route network was already global, 57 cities in 34 countries were served, only Africa was not served.

August 12, 1985 is the blackest day in the history of Japan Air Lines. A Boeing 747-146SR (JA 8119) crashes during a domestic flight from Tokyo to Osaka, killing 520 people. The cause is the rupture of the vertical stabilizer and damage to the horizontal stabilizer at an altitude of 3000 m due to cracks in the tail area (and loss of pressure) of the aircraft, which were not or only insufficiently repaired during maintenance work. The maintenance regulations at Japan Air Lines will then be significantly improved. See : Japan Air Lines Flight 123 . As a consequence of the accident, the JAL management team (Chairman, Vice-Chairman, President & CEO and Executive Vice President) will step down at the end of October.

In November 1985, JAL's third wide-body type, the Boeing 767-246, went into operation. Three machines (JA8231 to JA8233) were delivered to the airline in July, August and November 1985.

The subsidiary Japan Asia Airways is now independent after Japan Air Lines has given up the majority of the shares.

1986

From April 1, 1986, there is the first direct flight without a stopover on the Tokyo – London route and from April 5, 1986 Tokyo – Paris. New Boeing 747-346s are used here.

The first Boeing 767-346 (JA 8234) for which JAL was the first customer was delivered on September 25, 1986. In the following years only this version of the Boeing 767 is procured.

After privatization

The 1980s

1987 to 1988

Logo used from 1989 to 2002

A bill passed by the Japanese Parliament on October 27, 1987 resolved to repeal the Japan Air Lines Act from 1953 on November 18, 1987 and to carry out the full privatization of the airline. At that time, the state's shares in the airline were still 34.5% of the share capital. By December 17, 1987, all state shares have been sold. In the following years, an extensive fleet renewal program begins, with the first-generation Boeing 747s being retired. Five new Boeing 747-446s will be ordered that year.

Japan Air Lines decommissioned its last Boeing 727-046 on December 29, 1987. With the decommissioning of the last Douglas DC-8 on December 31, the 27-year era of the first JAL jet and the era of the airline's first generation of jets will end. In 1988 a further fifteen Boeing 747-446 aircraft were ordered.

1989

On May 17, 1989, the airline reveals a new corporate design and at the same time changes the spelling of its official international name to Japan Airlines. A key feature of the new brand identity is that the letters JAL become a central design element on the fuselage sides of the aircraft. In addition, a wide gray band with a red closing square now adorns the bow of the JAL aircraft and the subsidiary airlines.

The 1990s

1990

One of only two Boeing 747-100BSR built with an extended upper deck; JAL was the only customer for this variant

From January to March 1990, the first five of 20 Boeing 747-446s (JA 8071 to JA 8075) on order will be delivered. In May 1990, 20 more Boeing 747-446s were ordered, plus 34 options, of which only two options were later converted into orders. This is the largest single order in the history of Japan Airlines. On March 30, 1990, Japan Airlines ordered ten MD-11 aircraft from McDonnell Douglas. However, an additional option for a further ten machines will not be implemented later.

In May 1990, another subsidiary airline was founded with Japan Air Charter (JAZ). It now operates all of Japan Airlines' travel and charter flights.

In the second half of the year, Japan Airlines will take part in the evacuation of Japanese citizens from Iraq, as it is foreseeable that the Second Gulf War between Iraq and the Allies will occur.

On November 19, 1990, Japan Airlines received its hundredth Boeing aircraft with a 747-446 (JA 8078) at a ceremonial handover ceremony at the Boeing Everett Works in Seattle. A total of ten new Boeing 747-446s went into operation in 1990.

1991

Japan Airlines receives the first two Boeing 747-446Ds for domestic flights. This variant has a capacity for 568 passengers, making it the record holder in this category. Only 15 years later will this number of passengers be exceeded with the Airbus A380. With the purchase of a jumbo jet from Singapore Airlines , which was subsequently converted into a pure cargo aircraft, Japan Airlines put its last Boeing 747-200 into operation in November 1991.

From November 3, 1991, there was the first non-stop connection from Tokyo to Berlin-Schönefeld . But it quickly became apparent that this connection was a losing proposition. After a year the connection was closed again. Various US airlines such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have also tried since 1991 to maintain direct connections between Berlin and the large US cities of New York, Chicago and Washington; however, there were only losses with almost empty machines.

1992

A Boeing 747-400 painted from 1989 to 2002

After a year, the unprofitable non-stop connection Tokyo-Berlin will be discontinued. This makes Frankfurt the only German city that will continue to be served by Japan Airlines.

1993

The JAL subsidiary Southwest Air Lines (SWAL) changes its name to Japan TransOcean Airways (JTA) on April 1, 1993 .

1994

On April 1, 1994, the first of ten McDonnell Douglas MD-11 (JA 8580) machines that had been ordered went into flight operations. It was the fourth wide-body type on Japan Airlines. The aircraft of this type are called J-Birds at JAL , as they were christened after rare bird species names. Japan TransOcean Airways received its first of eight Boeing 737-4Q3 (JA 8523) on June 13, 1994.

1995

On September 1, 1995, the Boeing 737-446 (JA 8991) was used for the first time by Japan Airlines. A total of eight machines will be delivered. Japan Airlines also orders five 777-300s from Boeing.

1996

On February 15, 1996, Japan Airlines received the first of five Boeing 777-246 (JA 8981). This increases the number of wide-body types at JAL to five (according to B747, B767, DC-10, MD-11). On July 27, 1996, Japan Airlines' move to a new, larger administration building in Tokyo was completed.

1997

Boeing 737-400 of the JAL Express

On March 3, 1997 the tenth and last machine of the type MD-11 (JA 8589) is delivered to Japan Airlines, it is also the last aircraft from the manufacturer McDonnell Douglas for the airline. The subsidiary airline JAL Express (JEX) was founded on April 1, 1997. It now operates the JAL Boeing 737-446.

1998

On July 28, 1998, the first of five JAL Boeing 777-346 (JA 8941) ordered will be delivered. This variant, which was 10.1 meters longer than the basic version 777-200 to a fuselage length of 73.80 meters, was the longest commercial aircraft in the world at the time. On November 19, 1998, Boeing in Seattle (USA) celebrated the handover of the hundredth jumbo jet (a 747-446) for Japan Airlines.

1999

Japan Air Charter has been operating under the name JALways since October 1st, 1999 . Three new Boeing 747-446s (JA 8917, JA 8918, JA 8919) were delivered to JAL. In November 1999, Japan Airlines ordered the first two Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets for its subsidiary J-Air .

Merging to become the sixth largest airline in the world

The new millennium: the 2000s

2000

Logo used from 2002 to 2011

On March 31, 2000, Japan Airlines was its first customer to order eight twin-engine Boeing 777-346ER aircraft and two options. Two more new Boeing 747-446s (JA8920, JA8921) were delivered to Japan Airlines this year. In November 2000 the first Bombardier CRJ 200 (JA201J) was delivered to J-Air .

2001

On July 31, 2001, the forty-second and final jumbo jet (JA 8922) of the passenger version 747-446 was delivered to JAL. Of these, 34 are long-haul machines and 8 are in the domestic version without winglets and with reinforced landing gear. On November 18, 2001, Japan Airlines and Japan Air System ( the third largest Japanese airline after Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways ) announced their intention to merge.

2002 to 2003

The first Boeing 767-346ER (JA601J) for long-haul service was delivered to JAL on May 19, 2002. On July 11, 2002, Japan Airlines received the first of 21 Boeing 777-246ERs (JA701Js) on order for long-haul services. This type of aircraft replaces the McDonnell Douglas MD-11.

The first machine of the type De Havilland DHC-8-402 (JA841C) was delivered to the JAL subsidiary Japan Air Commuter in 2002 . The merger of Japan Airlines and Japan Air System to form the new Japan Airlines System Corporation came into effect on October 2, 2002.

The JAL subsidiary Japan Asia Airways , founded on August 8, 1975, became independent in 1985 as part of the privatization, as Japan Airlines gave up the majority of the shares. In 2002, however, it was again taken over by Japan Airlines.

Airbus A300-600R of Japan Air System with JAL logo, 2005

The merger with Japan Air System formerly Toa Domestic Airlines and its subsidiaries Japan Air Commuter and Harlequin Air to form the new Japan Airlines System Corporation will result in 16 Airbus A300-B2 and A300-B4 and 22 Airbus A300-622R (sixth wide-body type and at the same time first Airbus at JAL), seven Boeing 777-289, 16 McDonnell Douglas MD 90-30, eight MD-87, 26 McDonnell Douglas DC 9-81, 22 McDonnell Douglas DC 9-41 as well as the regional aircraft of the Saab 340B type and NAMC YS-11, -11A to the fleet of Japan Airlines.

Beginning in mid-November 2002, the first aircraft will receive the new uniform appearance as part of overhaul and maintenance work, the new JAL system logo, called "Arc of the Sun": red section (of the rising sun) on the white vertical stabilizer. The new logo of the JAL Group was first presented on September 18, 2002 at a press conference.

After the merger and the acquisitions, Japan Airlines System is the sixth largest airline in the world by passengers carried, and in fact the third largest in the world in terms of revenue or profits. After the merger on October 2, 2002, there were 286 aircraft. On October 7, 2002, Japan Airlines ordered two Boeing 747-400F cargo planes for the first time. So far JAL has only operated jumbo jet freighters of the type 747-200.

On September 1, 2003, Japan Airlines ordered a further 7 long-haul Boeing 767-346ER aircraft.

2004

A McDonnell Douglas MD-11 in August 2004

Due to the merger that took place in 2002, Japan Airlines will reorganize its structures on April 1, 2004. Under the umbrella company Japan Airlines System , the airlines are subdivided into the two main companies Japan Airlines International (formerly the old JAL) and Japan Airlines Domestic (formerly JAS). The nine subsidiary airlines that still exist are subdivided under this. On June 26, 2004, Japan Airlines System was renamed Japan Airlines Corporation .

On June 16 and July 1, 2004 Japan Airlines will receive its first two of a total of 8 Boeing 777-346ERs (JA 731J and JA 732J), currently the largest and heaviest twin jets in the world. At JAL, the machines have three-class seating for 292 passengers and a range of 13,800 km. Two new Boeing 747-446F (JA401J and JA402J) will be delivered to JAL in October 2004, and three more freighters of this type will be ordered on October 6, 2004.

On November 2, 2004, after only eleven years of operation, the MD-11 era at Japan Airlines ends with the sale of the last machine (JA8582) to Boeing, whereas the previous model DC-10 still has 13 of the original 20 machines in the airline's portfolio is available.

On December 22, 2004, Boeing received a major order from Japan Airlines with a volume of 3.6 billion US dollars for 30 Boeing 787-3 (domestic version) and 787-8 (long-haul version) as well as 20 options for delivery starting in April 2008 That’s the seventh wide-body guy at JAL. With these machines, the entire Airbus A300-B2 / -B4 / -622R and the oldest Boeing 767 will be gradually replaced from 2008 onwards. In December 2004 there were 276 aircraft.

2005

A Boeing 747-400 painted from 2002 to 2011

On January 6, 2005, Japan Airlines ordered two more Bombardier CRJ 200 aircraft for subsidiary J-Air. On February 4, 2005, JAL placed another major order for 30 Boeing 737 NG (-700, -800, -900) machines and 10 options for delivery from 2006. These machines are to be of the McDonnell-Douglas DC 9-81 and Replace MD 87 (formerly JAS) and the older Boeing 737-400.

Japan Airlines intends in the medium term to expand its fleet of currently 16 different types (as of Jan. 2005) by completely retiring the models Airbus A300-B2 / -B4 / -622R and McDonnell-Douglas DC-10, MD 11, DC 9-81 and MD 87 and the NAMC YS-11 to be adjusted to only 11 aircraft types by the end of fiscal year 2007 (March 31, 2008). In future, only aircraft from the manufacturers Boeing and Bombardier (for commuter service) will be ordered. (see also JAL fleet, orders ).

What is remarkable here is the fact that in February 2005 Japan Airlines ordered all current models from this manufacturer with the Boeing 737, 747, 767, 777 and 787 models.

2007

On February 6, 2007, Japan Airlines announced that it would lay off 4,300 employees. The airline is expected to generate operating profit again in 4 years through savings in personnel costs.

2009

In June 2009, Japan Airlines converted their Boeing 787-3 order to the Boeing 787-8.

Bankruptcy and recovery

JAL Dreamliner tail (15062685180) .jpg
Japan Airlines Wordmark (2011) .svg
The logo used since 2011 is based again on the "Tsurumaru" (above), which is a traditional form of representation of the crane.

The 2010s

2010

In January 2010, at the urging of the Japanese government, the 77-year-old Japanese entrepreneur Kazuo Inamori took over the management of the economically ailing aviation company in order to rehabilitate it.

The airline filed for bankruptcy on January 19. At the same time, CEO Haruka Nishimatsu announced his resignation. It was the largest bankruptcy of a company outside the financial industry in Japanese economic history. The Japanese government planned to support the airline with two billion euros.

In September 2010, Japan Airlines retired the McDonnell Douglas MD-81 (formerly JAS).

2011

In January 2011 Japan Airlines announced a new corporate design . The crane logo ("Tsurumaru") was reintroduced. According to JAL, it should stand for a fresh start for Japan Airlines and "increased commitment to society and the determination of management and all employees".

Japan Airlines retired their last two Boeing 747s in March 2011. This marked the end of an era after 41 years.

2012

In February 2012, Japan Airlines ordered 10 Boeing 787-9s and also converted 10 Boeing 787-8 orders to Boeing 787-9s.

In March 2012, Japan Airlines took over their first two Boeing 787-8s.

In September 2012, Japan Airlines returned to the stock exchange, two years after the bankruptcy announcement. It was the second-largest IPO of 2012 after Facebook . In terms of market capitalization , Japan Airlines became the most valuable Japanese airline again through the IPO.

2013

A Boeing 777-200 in the livery used since 2011

In March 2013, Japan Airlines retired the McDonnell Douglas MD-90 (formerly JAS).

In October 2013, Airbus announced that Japan Airlines had ordered 31 Airbus A350s . These included 18 Airbus A350-900s and 13 Airbus A350-1000s worth around seven billion euros. It was the first time in the history of Japan Airlines that aircraft were purchased from Airbus. JAL was previously a Boeing customer. The A350 is to replace the JAL's Boeing 777.

2014

In March 2014, the subsidiary Japan Transocean Air ordered 12 Boeing 737-800s. They are to replace the older Boeing 737-400s from 2016.

In August 2014, Japan Airlines ordered 32 Mitsubishi Regional Jets and 15 Embraer E-Jets (plus 12 options) for the subsidiary J-Air.

2015

On March 20, 2015, Japan Airlines celebrated the resumption of the Kansai - Los Angeles route, which it had discontinued in 2006 due to financial problems.

Japan Airlines received its first Boeing 787-9 in June 2015 and began operating this type on the Tokyo-Narita-Jakarta route a month later.

2016

In January 2016, the subsidiary Ryūkyū Air Commuter was the first airline to receive the Combi version of the De Havilland DHC-8-400 .

2017

In January 2017, the subsidiary Japan Air Commuter received its first ATR 42-600 and started operations with this type in April of that year.

On April 1, a government restriction on operations that prohibited Japan Airlines from making large investments and opening new routes ended. The airline was thus operating a connection between Tokyo-Haneda and New York for the first time since 1978.

On May 1st, the "JAL Falcon Business Jet Service" started flight operations with 9 Dassault Falcon . It should offer passengers the possibility to fly from Paris to any destination.

On December 5, Japan Airlines announced that it had invested US $ 10 million in the US start-up Boom Technology . In addition, an option was agreed for the order of up to 20 civilian supersonic aircraft , which the company is developing and which should be ready for series production by the mid-2020s.

2018

On July 18, Hokkaido Air System ordered  two ATR 42-600s to replace their aging Saab 340B .

On July 31, the subsidiary " ZIPAIR Tokyo " was founded, which will start offering low-cost international flights from July 2020.

2019

Japan Airlines received its first Airbus A350 on June 13th. Liner service began on September 1st on the Tokyo-Haneda - Fukuoka route.

Individual evidence

  1. JAL drops 787-3 order in favor of longer-range 787-8
  2. Japan Airlines: A management guru takes over the control stick . In Handelsblatt online on January 14, 2010, accessed on January 14, 2010.
  3. cf. GM model: Japan Airlines decides to file for bankruptcy at handelsblatt.com, January 19, 2010 (accessed January 19, 2010)
  4. ^ "MD-81 Farewell Tour" at JAL - Japan Airlines
  5. Japan Airlines returns to the crane logo. Retrieved April 19, 2014 .
  6. JAL: Return of the crane. Retrieved April 19, 2014 .
  7. After 41 years - JAL retires the last 747. Retrieved April 19, 2014 .
  8. JAL orders 10 Boeing 787-9s, converts 10 787-8s
  9. Japan Airlines Takes Delivery of Their First Two Boeing 787 Dreamliners
  10. Japan Airlines is back on the stock exchange. Retrieved April 28, 2014 .
  11. JAL Schedules Final MD90 Service on 30MAR13
  12. Airbus announces multi-billion euro order for the A350 from Japan Airlines. Retrieved April 19, 2014 .
  13. Airbus before triumph in Japan. Retrieved April 19, 2014 .
  14. Japan Transocean Air orders twelve Boeing 737s
  15. JAL decides to introduce MRJ as next-generation regional jet ( memento of the original from October 1, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.mrj-japan.com
  16. Brazil - Japan: "Embraer" receives order worth 677 million US dollars /
  17. ^ JAL resumes Kansai - Los Angeles
  18. JAL's Boeing 787-9 enters service
  19. Japan's Ryukyu Air Commuter outlines planned Q400 combi ops , accessed April 29, 2017
  20. Japan Air Commuter begins ATR operations , accessed April 29, 2017
  21. JAL launches Haneda-NY service as new route restriction ends ( memento of the original from April 2, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed April 29, 2017  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / mainichi.jp
  22. Japan Airlines inks French private jet partnership deal , accessed on April 29, 2017
  23. ^ Japan Airlines and Boom Announce Partnership for Supersonic Air Travel , accessed December 7, 2017
  24. info.hac-air.co.jp - 北海道 エ ア シ ス テ ム 、 ATR42-600 型 機 発 注 に 関 す る 覚 書 を 締結 (Japanese), accessed September 2, 2019
  25. mlit.go.jp - 航空 運送 事業 の 許可 に つ い て (Japanese), accessed September 2, 2019
  26. JAL Puts Airbus A350 into Service. In: Jiji Tsūshinsha . September 1, 2019, accessed on September 2, 2019 .