Press Release
JAL Group Route, Flight Frequency & Fleet Plan FY2008
Tokyo February 1, 2008: Today, the JAL Group announced its route, flight frequency and fleet plan for fiscal year 2008, the year beginning April 1, 2008 through to March 31, 2009 (subject to government approval).
JAL will continue restructuring its international and domestic passenger and cargo operations in preparation for the business opportunity that will arise in 2010 from the expansion and internationalization of Tokyo's Haneda Airport, and an increase of airport slot capacity at Narita Airport.
Through aircraft downsizing and fleet renewal, shifting to high growth high profit routes, and the introduction of high quality products and services, JAL aims to strengthen it competitiveness, build a stable business foundation and ready itself for the airport slot expansion in the metropolitan Tokyo area.
1. International Operations
In preparation for the expansion of landing slots in the Tokyo metropolitan area in 2010, JAL will actively strengthen Narita Airport’s function as a global hub and increase international flights to and from Haneda Airport. At the same time, the airline will speed up both the renewal of its fleet as well as implementation of its premium customer-oriented strategy.
Strengthening Narita’s Function as a Global Hub
JAL will adjust its operations at Narita Airport in preparation for the slot expansion in 2010. The airline will fine-tune the network it offers out of the airport to find the best mix of routes to satisfy business and tourism demand from Japan and overseas.
The airline will also adjust flight schedules and frequency to strengthen Narita’s role an international hub so that it can act effectively as a bridge between the dynamic economic zone of Asia and Europe and the US.
From April 1, for increased flight connection convenience, JAL flight numbers will be placed on all flights operated by Japan Asia Airways to Taiwan: Taipei and Kaohsiung.
Increase International Flights to/from Haneda
JAL will increase the number of flights out of Haneda Airport to meet passenger demand in the Tokyo metropolitan area. In addition to the international routes JAL currently operates out of Haneda to Seoul (Gimpo) and Shanghai (Hongqiao), the airline is planning to operate flights between Haneda - Beijing (Nanyuan) during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. JAL also intends to increase the number of charter flights operated out of Haneda to more than the approximately 280 it operated in FY2007.
Speed up Premium Customer Oriented Strategy
To increase competitiveness, JAL will speed up implementation of its premium customer-oriented strategy by introducing new seats in JAL First Class and JAL Executive Class (the airline’s branded business class), and by introducing the JAL Shell Flat Seat and JAL Premium Economy Service onto more routes.
a．Flight Frequency Increase
JAL will increase international flights on routes to and from Tokyo (Narita), strengthening Narita’s function as a global hub airport. The airline will also increase international flights to and from Osaka (Kansai) to strengthen its network serving the Kansai region.
|
Route |
Frequency Increase |
Date effective |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - New York |
Increase from 13 to 14 flights per week (Twice daily service from Narita) |
March 30, 2008 - |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Paris |
Increase from 7 to 11 flights per week (Additional flights on Tues/ Thu/ Sat/ Sun) |
July 1, - October 25, 2008 |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Busan |
Increase from 7 to 14 flights per week (Twice daily service) |
April 1, 2008 - |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Hangzhou |
Increase from 5 to 7 flights per week (Daily service) |
March 30, 2008 - |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Moscow |
Increase from 2 to 3 flights per week (Flights operated on Mon/ Thu/ Sat) |
March 30, 2008 - |
|
Osaka (Kansai) - Qingdao |
Increase from 3 to 4 flights per week (Flights operated on Tue/ Thu/ Sat/ Sun) |
March 30, 2008 - |
|
Tokyo (Haneda) - Beijing (Nanyuan) |
Flight operation being planned for Beijing Olympics. Once decided details to be announced at a later date. |
|
b. Flight Frequency Reduction
JAL will not operate additional scheduled flights during the summer months on the Tokyo (Narita) - Honolulu or Tokyo (Narita) - Vancouver routes, as it has done in the past.
c．Aircraft Change
JAL will improve its product competitiveness by introducing fuel-efficient, state-of-the-art 777-300ER on US routes, and expanding the use of 737-800 on China and Korea routes.
|
Route |
Current aircraft |
Aircraft after change |
Date effective |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - New York (JL005/006 only) |
747-400 |
777-300ER |
August 1, 2008 - |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - San Francisco |
747-400 |
777-300ER |
September 1, 2008 - |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Guangzhou (JL660/669 only) |
767-300 |
737-800 |
October 1, 2008 - |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Kaohsiung |
747-400 |
767-300 |
October 1, 2008 - |
|
Osaka (Kansai) - Guangzhou |
767-300 |
737-800 |
March 30, 2008 - |
|
Nagoya (Chubu) - Busan |
767-300 |
737-800 |
June 1, 2008 - |
d. Introduction of New First & Business Class Seats. Premium Economy Service & JAL Shell Flat Seat Introduced on More Routes
Introduction of New First Class and Business Class Seats
|
Route |
Date effective |
Remarks |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - New York |
August 2008 - |
Details to be announced separately |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - San Francisco |
September 2008 - |
JAL Shell Flat Seat RouteExpansion
|
Route |
Date effective |
Remarks |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Bangkok |
March 30, 2008 - |
To be introduced on JL703/ 704. (Already introduced on JL717/718). |
Premium Economy Service Route Expansion
|
Route |
Date effective |
Remarks |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Paris |
April 2008 - |
Ticket sales to commence mid February 2008 |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - New York |
August 2008 - |
Start of sales to be announced separately |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - San Francisco |
September 2008 - |
2. Domestic Operations
In FY2008, JAL will introduce two cutting-edge Embraer 170 regional jets（E170）, and will increase the number of 737-800 aircraft, as part of its policy of fleet renewal and downsizing. In line with its premium passenger oriented strategy, JAL will expand its new domestic first class service on Japan domestic routes to increase the airline’s product competitiveness
JAL will continue building on the improvements it made to its domestic flight schedule which resulted in a significant improvement in the airline’s on time performance (OTP) rate in FY2007.
a. First time cutting-edge E170 introduced to Japan
JAL will introduce for the first time to Japan Embraer 170 regional jets (E170). The jets, featuring outstanding interior comfort and state-of-the-art equipment, will start operations from February 2009 on mainly routes from Nagoya (Komaki). Introduction of the Embraer 170 will enable the JAL Group to promote optimal aircraft size depending on the scale of demand on each domestic route, and develop business operations more efficiently. The new small aircraft will help JAL improve its regional network and meet the business chances in and after FY2010 resulting from increased slots due to the expansion of Tokyo's Haneda airport.
b. New routes for Mt Fuji Shizuoka Airport
JAL plans to operate flights to Fukuoka and Sapporo from Mt Fuji Shizuoka Airport when the new airport opens for business. The new Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport is scheduled to open for business in March 2009. JAL plans to offer a daily service to Fukuoka in Kyushu, and a thrice daily service to Sapporo in Hokkaido from the new airport. The airline is currently assessing the potential passenger demand on these new routes using Mt Fuji Shizuoka Airport to determine the type of aircraft to operate, and the possibility of launching additional flights or routes.
c. Route Improvements from Osaka (Kansai)
JAL will inaugurate a daily service between Osaka (Kansai) and Sendai. Flight frequency will be increased between Kansai airport and Okinawa (Naha) to meet tourist demand. Schedules will be adjusted to improve access to the Kansai region and to facilitate smoother domestic connections for international flights heading for Shanghai, Southeast Asia and other overseas destination.
New Domestic Routes
|
Route |
Frequency |
Date effective |
|
Osaka (Kansai) - Sendai |
1 flight per day |
April 1, 2008 |
|
Shizuoka - Sapporo |
1 flight per day |
March 2009 |
|
Shizuoka - Fukuoka |
3 flights per day |
March 2009 |
Domestic Flight Frequency Increase
|
Route |
Frequency Increase |
Date effective |
|
Tokyo (Haneda) - Miyazaki |
Increase from 4 to 5 flights per day |
April 1 - May 31, 2008 |
|
Osaka (Kansai) - Okinawa |
Increase from 4 to 6 flights per day |
July 1 - September 30, 2008 |
|
Increase from 4 to 5 flights per day |
October 2008 - |
Domestic Flight Frequency Reduction
|
Route |
Frequency Decrease |
Date effective |
|
Osaka (Itami) - Fukushima |
Decrease from 2 to 1 flight per day |
April 1, 2008 - |
Route Suspension
|
Route |
Flight Suspension |
Date effective |
|
Sapporo - Okinawa |
1 to 0 flights per day |
April 1, 2008 (except for Apr - May & Oct 19 - Nov 2008) |
|
Kushiro - Asahikawa |
1 to 0 flights per day |
April 1, 2008 |
d. Domestic First Class Service Route Expansion
First introduced to Japan on December 1, 2007 on the Tokyo - Osaka (Itami) route, JAL’s domestic first class will also be introduced on the Tokyo (Haneda) - Fukuoka and Tokyo (Haneda) - Sapporo routes in the first half of FY2008. The service will be introduced on the Fukuoka route from April 2008, and from June 2008 on the Sapporo route, in advance of the G8 Summit to be held in Toyoko, Hokkaido in July 2008. In July, the domestic first class service will be expanded onto all 15 roundtrip flights between Tokyo (Haneda) and Osaka (Itami).
3. Cargo Operations
In FY2008, JAL will complete the retirement of all its classic-type 747-200 freighters (747F). These are being replaced by 747 freighter conversions (747BCF), which together with the airline’s 747-400 freighters (744F), will increasingly be used on direct routings. JAL’s medium-size 767-300 freighters (767F) will enable the airline to flexibly respond to meet strong demand in China and Southeast Asia.
Main FY2008 Cargo Operation Changes
|
Route |
Aircraft |
Change from March 30, 2008 |
Remarks |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Nagoya (Chubu) -Tianjin - Osaka (Kansai) |
767-300F |
2 flights per week service suspended |
Flights changed to 2 stop routing with stopovers en route in Dalian & Tianjin |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Dalian |
767-300F |
1 flight per week service suspended |
|
|
Osaka (Kansai) - Dalian |
767-300F |
Decrease from 2 to 1 flight per week |
|
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Tianjin - Dalian - Tokyo (Narita) |
767-300F |
New routing - 1 flight per week |
|
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Tianjin - Dalian - Osaka (Kansai) |
767-300F |
New routing - 1 flight per week |
|
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Qingdao |
767-300F |
Increase from 1 to 2 flights per week |
Routing change for Qingdao flights. No change in frequency. |
|
Osaka (Kansai)- Qingdao - Tokyo (Narita) |
767-300F |
Decrease from 2 to 1 flight per week |
|
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Guangzhou |
747F |
Aircraft to 767F |
1 flight per week service |
|
Osaka (Kansai) - Taipei |
767-300F |
New route - 2 flights per week |
|
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Osaka (Kansai)-Taipei- Tokyo (Narita) |
747-400F |
1 flight per week service suspended |
Route change due to operation of 767F on (Osaka) Kansai - Taipei route |
|
Tokyo (Narita) - Taipei |
747-400F |
Increase from 4 to 5 flights per week |
4. FY2008 Aircraft Retirement & Renewal Plan(International/ Domestic Passenger & Cargo)
JAL plans to continue retiring older aircraft, replacing them with state-of-the-art, more fuel efficient, small and medium size aircraft to reduce costs and increase competitiveness.
By the end of FY2008 the JAL Group fleet used for international/ domestic passenger and cargo business will total 273 aircraft, one more than at the end of FY2007.
Retirements |
10 x 747 Classic type (7 x passenger/ 3 x freighter) |
2 x 767-300 |
6 x MD81 |
TOTAL: 18 |
|
Introductions |
3 x 777-300ER |
5 x 767-300ER |
9 x 737-800 |
2 x E170 |
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL: 19 |
Fleet PlanFY08.pdf