Japan Airlines (JAL) announced the decision to sell 79.6% of its share in JAL Hotels to Hotel Okura today. After the transaction, JAL will maintain 11.1% of stake in JAL Hotels. Both brands of Hotel Nikko and JAL Hotel City will be retained and JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) members can keep accumulating miles and using JAL Coupons at the JAL Hotels chain. JAL Hotels and Hotel Okura will cooperate closely to improve profitability. For details, you can refer to JAL Press Release.

Japan Airlines (JAL) announced today the decision to merge 4 of its subsidiary sales companies into a consolidated entity. The subsidiaries are JAL Sales Co., Ltd. (JSAT), JAL Sales Hokkaido Co., Ltd. (JSAH), JAL Sales West Japan Co., Ltd. (JSAW) and JAL Sales Kyushu Co., Ltd. (JSAK). Right now each of them is responsible for JAL sales in their respective region. After the merge, which is scheduled to take effect from October 1 2010, the consolidated company JAL Sales Co., Ltd will improve efficiency by unifying the sales strategies and activities, and drawing strengths and expertise from each of the four companies.

Source: JAL Press Release

Japan Airlines (JAL) and Vietnam Airlines (VN) has reached an agreement to expand their existing code sharing deal to include Nagoya-Ho Chi Minh City and Narita-Hanoi from October 1 2010. Ticket sales will start on August 5 2010. JAL will also retime its Narita-Honai flight on the same day it starts codesharing with VN on this route. Below are the schedules.

Japan Airlines (JAL) has finally posted a notice on its website regarding the upcoming configuration change on the SFO route (JL001/002). But the period listed on the notice is longer than the one I reported earlier. Now SFO will see 8 more days of older generation products. If you are flying JL001/002 between September 5 and October 8 2010, make sure you check your assigned seats as the aircraft configuration has changed on these days

Source: JAL website

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.