History of JAL | History of JAL

4.1		JAL/JAS integration is completed. Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., headed by President Katsuo Haneda, becomes Japan Airlines International handling international passenger operations and cargo business. Japan Air System Co., Ltd., headed by President Mitsuo Komatsubara, becomes Japan Airlines Domestic in charge of domestic passenger operations.
4.1		Japan Asia Airways Co., Ltd. becomes a wholly owned subsidiary company of the new JAL Group holding company, Japan Airlines System Corporation.
4.1		Establishment of JAL Brand Communications, a new subsidiary to handle promotion of the new JAL Brand, as well as, JAL Group advertising, sales promotion and publishing activities.
5.26		As Japan's official airline for the Athens Olympics, JAL specially paints aircraft with 'Ganbare! Nippon! (Go Japan!)' design.
6.1		JAL introduces the 'Class J' seat, a key component of a new, simplified and lower-priced domestic business class service. Later in the year, the seat wins the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization's (JIDPO) '2004 Good Design Award (Product Design Category)'.
6.5		In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the inauguration of scheduled flight services between Japan-China, JAL supports a professional sumo-wrestling tournament held in China.
6.25		At the 2nd Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the JAL Group's holding company, Japan Airlines System Corporation, is renamed Japan Airlines Corporation. (Name effective from June 26).
7.1		JAL starts operation of its first state-of-the-art fuel-efficient Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) aircraft (JA731J) on July 1 between Narita and Singapore (JL719).
10.12		JAL's last MD-11 aircraft (JA8582) retires from service making its last flight from Hong Kong to Narita (JL730). (Originally introduced into service on Apr 1, 1994).
10.24		Additional special flights are operated between Tokyo and Niigata following the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquakes on Oct 23, 2004. (A temporary service is provided up until Jan 4 2005).
10.25		JAL is the first airline in Japan to introduce a Boeing 747-400 freighter to its fleet. Inaugurated on the Narita - Kansai route.
11.25		Commemoration of FM Tokyo's 10,000th 'JET STREAM' broadcast. (Broadcasting began in 1967).
12.1		JAL's domestic services at Haneda Airport Terminal 1 (formerly the West Terminal) are greatly expanded with the opening of the new Terminal 2 at Haneda. Renovation of Terminal 1 is completed on Dec 21, providing passengers with a more customer friendly and spacious facility.
12.9		'JAL Inflight Internet Service' - an in-flight high-speed Internet connection service is launched on Tokyo-London route (JL401/402).
12.10		The JAL Group decides to participate in the UN Global Compact and uphold ten internationally agreed principles covering the fields of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.

1.4		JAL Group's 'JALCARD' and Japan Rail East's 'View Suica' credit and electronic money card are combined to create the 'JALCARD Suica', providing a more comprehensive range of benefits to domestic air and rail users.
1.9		JAL RABBITS win for the first time the 71st ALL Japan Basketball Tournament (Empress Cup).
1.29		JAL helps to spread the word on the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Nagano, for example, by painting the Games' logo on one of its aircraft operating between Haneda and Itami airports.
2.15		JAL introduces Japan's first domestic IC check-in service 'Touch & Go' to Haneda, Itami, New Chitose and Fukuoka airports.
2.17		The opening day of the new Central Japan International Airport (Centrair). JL3201 bound for Fukuoka is the first JAL flight to leave the new airport, and JAL's new daily Nagoya - Paris service is inaugurated. On Feb 18, JAL's new Nagoya - Guangzhou service begins.
3.17		Following a series of safety-related incidents, JAL is issued with a business operational improvement order & administrative warning by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT). On April 14, JAL reports to the MLIT its new safety measures.
4.1		Toshiyuki Shinmachi is designated new JAL Group CEO.
4.1		JAL starts a new Web check-in service for international flights, allowing passengers using a computer or cell phone to check-in and select a seat up to one hour prior to departure.
4.1		Renewal of JAL's Website.
4.1		First JAL domestic code share agreement with non JAL Group airline. Code share agreement with Skymark Airlines between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Kansai Airport, Osaka.
5.27		JAL participates in Japan's 'Team minus 6%', an energy-saving campaign initiated by the Ministry of Environment with the aim of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by 6%.
8.1		JAL establishes a special Safety Advisory Committee of outside experts, chaired by Kunio Yanagida, to consult and advise on safety issues.
10.31		JL952 from Seoul to Tokyo (Narita) is the last flight operated by JAL using a DC-10 aircraft (JA8541). After nearly 30 years in active service, the retirement of all DC-10s from JAL's fleet is completed.
11.26		An aircraft decorated with designs from a popular children's game called 'Mushi-King' (Beetle King) which had been featured in a family summer vacation campaign made a special sightseeing charter flight.

2.16		Kobe Airport opened. The JAL Group inaugurated round trip flights on 6 routes including twice-daily between Haneda and Kobe.
2.21		An aircraft with a special livery depicting the members of the Japan national soccer team entered service, to promote the team in advance of the 2006 World Cup. JAL had 3 aircraft carry the designs.
3.16		New Kitakyushu Airport opened, enabling operation of large aircraft. In addition to the Haneda route, the JAL Group launched flights to Okinawa and Nagoya (Komaki).
3.31		The last A300　B2/B4 retired from service after final JAL Group flight JL1210 (Aomori-Tokyo).
4.24		JAL established the Safety Development Center, featuring exhibits related to the JAL flight 123 accident, to use for safety training and increasing safety awareness.
6.2		Narita Airport Passenger Terminal No. 1 opened after renovation. Renovation of Passenger Terminal No. 2 facilities and equipment commenced.
6.7		A 777-300 aircraft with a special livery promoting the environmental activities of the nationally promoted government-backed Team Minus 6% Campaign was put into service. It carried the design until December 2006.
6.28		Haruka Nishimatsu was elected President and CEO.
7～8		Japan Airlines Corporation increased its capital by 750 million shares through a combination of a public offering in Japan and a private placement to overseas investors.
9.27		A JAL aircraft painted with a giant poster advertising the domestic Sakitoku discount fares entered service.
9.30		The last YS-11 retired after completing JAL Group flight JAC3806 (Okinoerabu-Kagoshima). The retired aircraft was transferred to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
10.1		Business operating companies, Japan Airlines International and Japan Airlines Domestic, were unified into one company, Japan Airlines International.
11.1		Collection of donations for UNICEF started this day on board all international flights (JAL and JALways operated flights).
11.7		Codeshare flights with Galaxy Airlines started. (Haneda-Kitakyushu, Naha), enabling JAL to enter the late-night air cargo market.
12.1		Loading of playing cards with Universal Design specifications as cabin novelty items began. A Universal Design exhibit booth opened in Haneda Operation Center.

3.1		State-of-the-art Boeing 737-800 aircraft are introduced to JAL's fleet, first on domestic Japan routes (Haneda - Miyazaki/ Yamaguchi-Ube) and then from May 15 on international routes (Kansai - Dalian/ Hangzhou/ Hanoi/ Qingdao) .
3.6		A charter flight to Iwo Jima is operated carrying Japanese war-bereaved relatives holding a memorial service on the island.
4.1		LOSA (Line Operations Safety Audit), a program for the management of human error in flight operations, is introduced. Through analyzing the results of this program, a decrease in human error and an improvement in operational quality is expected.
4.1		JAL becomes an official member of oneworld, the world' leading quality multilateral airline alliance. To celebrate this milestone, two aircraft are covered in a special oneworld design. One is put into service on international routes from April 16 and the other on domestic Japan routes from April 30.
5.		Launched originally in the USA in November 1983, JAL Mileage Bank, JAL's global frequent flyer program, reaches the 20 million member mark.
7.1		Starting with the Narita - Chicago route, meal service improvements in JAL Executive Class Seasons, by increasing meal choice and creating a more individual-focused service, take in-flight hospitality to even greater heights.
7.3		To mark the 40th anniversary of 'the radio program JET STREAM' aired on TOKYO FM, which is sponsored by JAL, special audio programs and other commemorative events are held.
7.9		Boeing 767-300F freighters are introduced to further increase profitability. The first flight is from Narita to Shanghai (Pudong) via Kansai.
7.19		JAL opens two completely refurbished lounges at Narita International Airport Terminal 2. A more spacious and comfortable environment is created by almost tripling the total original lounge area; redesigning and refurbishing their interiors; and improving the range of services available.
9.1		In the 35th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, JAL publishes the first edition of 'Xiang', the airlines new Chinese-language inflight magazine for mainland China routes.
9.1		A fun children's course called the JAL Origami Hikoki is launched. JAL volunteers visit local kindergartens, and schools and attend special events to teach youngsters how to make paper airplanes (hikoki) using origami.
9.25		Japan extends RNAV (area navigation) - the latest method of air navigation - to more key airports in the country. RNAV can reduce flight distance and time, fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
9.29		A daily service between Haneda Airport, Tokyo and Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai is introduced.
12.1		JAL starts introducing JAL Premium Economy - a premium economy cabin - on international routes.
12.1		JAL introduces a first class service for the first-ever time on Japan domestic flights.