Press Release
JAL to Operate Iwo Jima Charter Flight for War-bereaved Relatives
First ever Iwo Jima charter flight by Japanese commercial aircraft
Tokyo February 27, 2007: JAL has decided to operate a charter flight to Iwo Jima carrying Japanese war-bereaved relatives to hold a memorial service on the island. This is the first Iwo Jima charter flight by a Japanese airline and is being carried out at the request of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
Up until now, flights to the WW2 island battlefield were operated for the bereaved families using Japan Self Defense Force aircraft in a special government program. Last year JAL received a proposal from the Ministry to operate a charter flight and following a field survey JAL decided to go ahead and operate a charter flight. JAL is working with the Ministry of Defense who will provide assistance with local ground handling on the island's military airstrip.
Many of the bereaved families are of advanced years and the use of a commercial airliner will ease the physical burden of the family members on the 702 mile (1123 km) journey to this remote island.
Outline of charter flight
1. Date of operation - March 6, 2007 (Tue.) (In case if bad weather, March 7)
2 .Route - Haneda Airport - Iwo Jima round trip (same day)
3. Aircraft - MD90 (150 seats)
4.Schedule
JAL4907 Haneda departure: 08：10 － Arrive 10：15 Iwo Jima
JAL4908 Iwo Jima departure 15：45－Arrive 17：50 Haneda
5. Organizer: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
6. Bereaved families: 99 persons (including 4 carers for elderly participants)
For customer & general enquiries, please contact your local JAL office: www.jal.co.jp/en/information/inter/branch/
Journalists with media enquiries, please contact the press office: geoffrey.tudor@jal.com / stephen.pearlman@jal.com
Tel: 81-3-5460-3109 / Fax: 81-3-5460-3108/ www.jal.com/en/corporate/
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| Iwo charter.pdf |
