We knew Japan Airlines (JAL) is going to has an operating profit this quarter because JAL President told the press about it last month during the monthly press conference. We just didn't know how much. And they finally reveal it today! JAL made a 12.7 billion yen net profit and 17.1 billion yen operating profit in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011! And guess what? Although All Nippon Airways (ANA), JAL's direct competitor, had a much lower drop in passenger numbers than JAL, they still saw an 8.4 billion yen loss :p Below are some highlights of the first quarter results.

(JAL Arashi Jet 2 (JA8982). Picture Source: @y3z9haisai)

Japan Airlines has launched JAL Arashi Jet 2 as planned on July 26 2011. And JAL Arashi Jet 2 is actually the same plane used as the first JAL Arashi Jet last year with registration JA8982! Both Arashi Jet 1 and Jet 2 have the same livery. The only way to distinguish them are by their registration number (JA772J vs JA8982)

Below are more links to pictures of JAL Arashi Jet 2:
riepink3104 san's album on photozou.jp

JAL will be launching JAL Arashi Jet 2 on time on July 26 2011. It could be just some miscommunication yesterday on its website. For now, looks like JAL Arashi Jet 2 won't have a fixed schedule. JAL will announce the Arashi Jet 2 schedule on a daily basis, at 18:00 JST. Detail schedule can be found on JAL website (Japanese only). Below is Arashi Jet 2's schedule for tomorrow

JAL503 HND 0730 - CTS 0910
JAL504 CTS 1000 - HND 1135
JAL315 HND 1225 - FUK 1410
JAL320 FUK 1500 - HND 1640
JAL525 HND 1730 - CTS 1905
JAL526 CTS 2000 - HND 2140

Of course, just like any other flights, JAL might make a last minute swap due to maintenance and operational reasons and can't 100% guarantee you will see Arashi on your plane.

As reported yesterday, Japan Airlines (JAL) is launching the new JAL Arashi Jet today. Below is a picture of it taking off as JAL515 from Haneda (HND) to Chitose (CTS). As you can see, the plane used as JAL Arashi Jet 1 is JA772J (probably because they have already painted this plane with the new livery :p). Please note that this is not the first flight of the Arashi Jet but that's the only photo I could find for now :)

(Picture Source: NAGA from twipple)

Below are more videos and pictures of JAL Arashi Jet 1

JAL Arashi Jet with new JAL livery. Image by Japan Airlines.

Yes, Asahi Jet is back! Japan Airlines will be bringing back the popular Arashi livery this summer. And they will be painting TWO (yes TWO!) 777-200 with this special Arashi livery. Both JAL Arashi Jets will be flying domestically between July 25 2011 (July 26 for JAL Arashi Jet 2 if it's not delayed) and Jan 2012. They will be used on HND-ITM, HND-CTS, HND-FUK, and HND-OKA routes. Below are the planned schedules for Arashi Jet 1 till end of September