JAL's History1980's
We will provide detailed chronological timelines introducing the history of JAL, the history of its fleet, and the history of its uniforms respectively.
History in Each Era
We will introduce our journey by each era.
1980's The era of high-tech aircraft and fierce competition in the aviation industry
Supported by the overseas expansion of Japanese companies and the boom in international travel, the aviation industry experienced a period of rapid growth. During this time, advancements in technology progressed alongside increased transport capacity of aircraft. Market segmentation such as "JAL for international flights", "ANA for domestic flights" and "Toa Domestic Airlines for local routes" gradually faced deregulation, accelerating free competition and creating a growing demand for differentiation.
Aircraft introduced in 1980 and events of that time Open
Wide-body aircraft suitable for short-haul routes
AIRBUS A300-B2
1983:Japan Airlines became the world number one in scheduled air transport.
Among 126 members of IATA (International Air Transport Association), JAL achieved the top position in the international scheduled transport sector and maintained the world number one ranking for five consecutive years until 1987.
Aircraft introduced in 1985 and events of that time Open
Fourth-generation high-tech jet
Boeing767-200
1986: Direct flights to Europe launched one after another
For example, between Tokyo and Paris, two stopovers were required in 1965, but by 1986 direct flights were introduced, reducing travel time by up to five and a half hours. With the opening of new routes and improvements in aircraft performance and fuel efficiency, direct flights to Europe gradually increased.
April 1988: Establishment of Japan Air System
Coinciding with the launch of international flights (Narita-Seoul route) in 1988, the company changed its name from Toa Domestic Airlines (TDA) to Japan Air System (JAS). It also opened routes to Honolulu, Singapore, and China.
Pickup Episode
Towards complete privatization
a renewal of the JAL logo
Based on the new JAL branding plan, the logo was designed around the themes of "internationality", "sophistication" and "contemporary Japan". The black lettering of JAL represents "integrity" and "reliability", the red square symbolizes "burning passion" and the gray band expresses a sense of "speed" and "dynamism".
Expansion into domestic regional routes
In December 1985, regulations on business sectors targeting the three major domestic airlines were relaxed, ushering in a new era of competition. As the first step in expanding into domestic regional routes, JAL launched the Tokyo (Haneda) to Kagoshima line on July 20, 1986. This was the first new domestic scheduled flight route for JAL in 35 years, excluding the new Tokyo International Airport (Narita). Subsequently, on October 1 of the same year, the Komatsu route was opened, gradually expanding JAL’s domestic flight network.