Japan Airlines (JAL) has made some changes to its Honolulu (HNL) flights between November 18 and 14 2011. JL073/074 (NRT-HNL) are no longer shown on the schedule on certain dates and the other two Narita flights are upgraded to 777-200ER and 777-300ER service while the Haneda flight sees a downgrade from 777-200ER to 767-300ER. Also, JAL is offering First Class service on JL071/072 on selected dates and the F cabin is quite full on those dates too! Below is the schedule between November 8 and 14.

I finally find out where Japan Airlines (JAL) is going to deploy the extra 777-300ER after switching Narita (NRT) - San Francisco (SFO) (JL001/002) from 777-300ER to 777-200ER. From October 31 2010, JAL will start First class service on NRT-Jakarta (CGK), the same day which JAL downsize SFO to 772. Since JAL will be using the SFO aircraft on this route, it is getting the latest and greatest products, i.e. JAL Suite and JAL Flat Shell NEO seats in First and Business class respectively. And don't forget about the Sky Gallery and Self-service bar. I start to feel jealous :P

Also, JAL will discontinue First class service on Hong Kong (HKG) route (JL731/732) from October 1 2010. Currently NRT-HKG is the only short-haul route left with First class service. When JAL switches this flight to Haneda (HND) airport, it will downsize the aircraft from 747-400 to 777-200ER, and therefore discontinuing First class service and finally retire the Sky Sleeper seats (at least no route with regular scheduled Sky Sleeper service). This will also marks an end of short-haul First class service. NRT-CGK will be the shortest route with First class service after this.

Back in January when JAL filed for bankruptcy, there were 71 unfilled Boeing orders including 20 737-800's, 9 767-300ER's, 7 777-300ER's widebodies and 35 787's. JAL originally scheduled to take more 773 this fall but I just checked Boeing's website, JAL only has 60 unfilled orders left and Boeing has only delivered 4 738's to JAL this year so far. There are no more unfilled 773 orders left! :( Well this all make sense because JAL don't need anymore large sized aircraft at the moment. Too bad I was hoping to fly on JA744J. I guess that's not going to happen any time soon :(

So if you are hoping for the JAL Suites to make it to the European network, you will have to wait for JAL to reconfigure its older 773 fleet. With JL001/002 downsizing to 772, JAL only has 1 spare 773, not enough to have a daily JAL Suite to Europe :)

When it rains, it pours. Japan Airlines flight 009 from Chicago to Narita has a minor incident today. After JL009 landed at NRT today, some parts of the wing fell off and the runway has to be closed as a result. The runway has already reopened after the parts were found. The aircraft is a 777-300ER. JAL uses its latest 777-300ERs on this route and the oldest one is 1.5 years one. And they are falling apart already!?

Source: TBS news (in Japanese with video)

Japan Airlines sneakily update the aircraft change announcement once again (see SFO got screwed once again). JAL added January 1-8 2010 as the dates which NRT-SFO will see W73 configuration instead of W82. In other words, no JAL Suites nor NEO seats. Only Solo and Shell Flat on those days. I wonder what's going on. Is it SFO's business class booking is so low that JAL want to use a 773 with a larger Y cabin or it is really due to aircraft maintenance. Either way, I am glad that I am not based on SFO as JAL seems to pick on them all the time LOL

According to the European Airline Scene blog, JA743J left Paine Field for delivery to Japan Airlines on October 28. It flown to Narita as JL7901. So JAL now finally has received all 3 773's this year. We will see JA743J in service very soon. Let's see if I am lucky enough to fly on it on my next flight :)

As of October 6, JA743J, third and last 777-300ER to be delivered to Japan Airlines, wasn't quite ready for delivery yet.

Sorry SFO, you are getting screwed once again. Japan Airlines has added extra dates in December which JL001/002 between NRT and SFO will be operated by a 773 with older configuration.

IF Boeing has not delivered JA743J to Japan Airlines yet, it will be very soon. JA743J is the third and last 777-300ER to be delivered to JAL in 2009.

WOW what a start for 773 operation for Japan Airlines LAX route. First JL062 was delayed because of ship change on Day 1. Now on Day 2, it was delayed again. This time because of strong wind at Narita. But JAL finally fixed the delay problem on Day 3. They were able to use another 773 on JL062 before JL061 arrives. So where did they find the 773? Has Boeing finally delivered JA743J?

Japan Airlines started scheduled 773 service to LAX and ORD yesterday. And guess what? On Day 1, the LAX flight (JL062) was delayed due to ship change LOL. I hope they still use the new config on the flight after the switch. I would be pissed if I bought ticket for this first 773 flight and end up getting the old config :P Another side effect of the switch to 773 is the chain effect of delays due to late arrival of aircraft. JL062 is delayed today again, this time due to late arrival of aircraft. JAL doesn't have spare 773 with new config to spare ;)

The Japan Airlines restructuring rumors just won't end. It looks like to me people close to the source just throw out these ideas and test what the public reactions are. Then they will decide on what to do LOL. Mainichi Daily News reports the panel will suggest JAL to sell off a dozen of its large-sized planes and 30% of its subsidiaries.

Japan Airlines flight 005 from New York to Narita blew on of the tires during landing on July 2 2009.

I have been asked this question so many times. When will LAX (Los Angeles) switch from 744 to 773? Japan Airlines has finally updated its website to show JL062 and JL061 will switch to 773 on October 25 2009. And Chicago see the same change on the same day. But JAL probably hasn't updated their inventory or online booking system because I still can't buy a Premium Economy class ticket. Below is the booking page on JAL website

Someone tried to google "what aircraft is jal flying lax nrt" today and landed onto one of the pages on my blog (and then bounced...). Well in case you are still looking and somehow return to my blog again, here is the answer.