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JAL's History - History of Company 1981s

1981-1990
We will take a look back at the history of Japan Airlines (JAL), from its founding to the present day, with a timeline of details and notable events.


1.16
U.S. Air Transport World Magazine awards JAL with 'Airline of the Year 1980', the most excellent airlines company prize.
2.1
JAL introduces Sky-Recliners into its New York route.
2.27
JAL conducts a special flight for a visit of Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince (the Kinjo Emperor) and Princess to Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Singapore. -03.07
3.23
JAL inaugurates the Sapporo=Tokyo(Narita)=Honolulu route (with DC-8-82).
4.1
JAL inaugurates the Osaka=Tokyo(Narita)=Los Angeles route (with B747 plane).
6.6
JAL inaugurates the Fukuoka=Tokyo(Narita)=Honolulu route (with DC-8-61/B747 planes).
7.15
Japan Asia Airways inaugurates the Tokyo=Taipei=Takao route.
12.28
The first flight for Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) departs from New Tokyo International Airport(Narita).

1.21
JAL is awarded a cargo division prize of 'Airline of the Year'.
2.9
JL Flight 350 crashes in Tokyo Bay near Haneda Airport.
6.21
JAL is designates as the official airline for the Science World Fair - TSUKUBA EXPO 85'.
9.2
JAL issues JALCard.
11.9
JAL transports a giant panda (Fayfay) from Beijing Zoo (Beijing-Tokyo(Narita)).

1.26
JAL and its associated group are appointed the official carrier for Tokyo Disney Land.
2.1
JAL introduces Super Executive J Class into B747 international flights.
4.1
JAL inaugurates Tokyo(Narita)=Seattle=Chicago route (with B747-LR planes).
11.14
JAL launches a service for the new JAL Executive Class.
11.30
JAL's first B747-300 plane (B747-SDU) arrives at Tokyo(Narita). Introduced on its transpacific route on December 15.
12.24
JAL's DC-8 planes are retired from domestic routes.

2.25
JAL conducts a special flight for a visit of Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince (the Kinjo Emperor) and Princess to Europe and Africa.
6.18
JAL ranks first place among IATA (International Air Transport Association) carriers in terms of international regular transportation result in 1983.
12.22
Transports blankets, sent to Association of Send Blankets to Africa, to Ethiopia.

1.10
JAL inaugurates 'Aurora' and 'Blue Islander' service on the Sapporo=Okinawa(Naha) route (with DC-10 plane).
2.23
JAL conducts a special flight (with DC-10 plane) for the visit of Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince (the Kinjo Emperor) and Princess to Europe. -03.09
6.3
JAL inaugurates Dusserdorf route( with B747-LR plane).
6.22
JAL introduces 'Business-Exclusive Jumbo Jet' to the Tokyo(Narita)=New York direct route. The first flight is operated by JL006.
8.12
JA8119 JL123 accident
8.17
B767(JA8232)arrives at Haneda from Boeing, Seattle, introduced on routes in November.
11.1
JAL introduces B767 planes on its domestic route (Tokyo(Haneda)=Fukuoka). It is also introduced on its international flights (Tokyo(Narita)=Seoul) on December 2.

3.1
JAL introduces JAL Super Seat into domestic flights of B747-SR and B747-LR planes.
4.2
JAL inaugurates a code-sharing flight with Qantas on two routes, Tokyo(Narita)=Perth, Tokyo(Narita)=Cairns-Brisbane, and conducts one round trip a week for each route.
4.4
JAL inaugurates the Nagoya=Honolulu route.
JAL introduces the B747-SR-SUD plane (563 seats) into its domestic flights (Tokyo(Narita)=Fukuoka, Tokyo(Haneda)=Sapporo) .
4.5
JAL inaugurates the Tokyo(Narita)=Paris direct flight which is the first flight flying over Siberia to Europe in the world. It is also introduced on the Tokyo(Narita)=London route on April 7.
4.
JAL begins to call at Saipan on the Osaka=Guam route.
7.2
JAL inaugurates its Atlanta route (Tokyo(Narita)=Seattle=Atlanta). Two round trips a week, technical landing at Seattle.
7.20
JAL inaugurates the Tokyo(Haneda)=Kagoshima route (the new domestic route for the first time in 35 years since the company's foundation, with B747-SR-SUD plane).
9.24
DC-8 cargo freighter is retired from scheduled service.
10.1
JAL inaugurates the Tokyo(Haneda)=Komatsu(Kanazawa) route.
10.20
JAL inaugurates the Nagoya=Fukuoka route (with B767-300 plane).

4.25
JAL inaugurates the Nagoya=Sapporo route (with B767 plane).
7.1
Japan Asia Airways' stewardesses begin to wear their new uniform.
11.18
Full privatization.
12.29
JAL's B727 planes retire with its last chartered flight between Guam and Kumamoto.
12.31
DC-8 planes retire with its last flight JL958 from Pusan to Tokyo (operated for 27 years).

1.1
JAL cabin attendants and female ground staff begin to wear their new uniform (announced on November 11, 1987, designed by Shigenobu Motoi/navy military suit).
1.14
Announcement of hiring of 113 foreign stewardesses (70 UK, 22 West Germany, 21 Singapore).
3.25
Announcement of “Invitation to Send Your Dreams” project.
4.3
JAL inaugurates the Nagoya=Singapore route.
7.23
JAL inaugurates the Tokyo(Haneda)=Matsuyama route (with B767-300 plane).
10.31
JAL inaugurates the Nagoya=Bangkok code-sharing flights with Thai Airways International.

5.3
JAL inaugurates Tokyo(Narita)=Toronto code-sharing flights with Canadian Airlines (with DC-10-30ER plane).
5.17
JAL announces its new design system (new logo). The first aircraft with new body design is advertised at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) on May 29.
7.1
JAL inaugurates the Adelaide·Melbourne route (Tokyo(Nariata)-Adelaide-Melbourne-Tokyo(Narita)) by code-sharing with Qantas.
7.11
Japan Asia Airways inagurates the Nagoya=Taipei route (seasonal unscheduled flights).
7.22
JAL inaugurates the Tokyo(Haneda)=Hakodate route, accompanied by the second expansion of slots at Haneda Airport (with B767).
11.3
JAL inaugurates the Guam·Saipan routes from Nagoya (Nagoya=Guam, Nagoya=Saipan=Guam) (with DC-10 plane).

1.16
JAL launches new domestic in-flight service, 'Quiet Cabin Service'.
2.14
First delivery of B747-400 (JA8071), arrives at Narita .
3.29
JAL names its B747-400 planes 'Sky Cruiser'.
4.1
B747-400 planes make its maiden flgiht on the Tokyo(Narita)=Seoul, Tokyo(Haneda)=Fukuoka and Tokyo(Haneda)=Okinawa(Naha) routes.
7.21
JAL inaugurates the Tokyo(Haneda)=Hiroshima route (with B767 plane)
9.19
JAL operates a relief flight (B747 plane) to transfer refugees caused by the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, as requested by IOM (International Organization for Migration).
11.16
JAL inaugurates the Nagoya=Okinawa(Naha) route ( with B767 plane).

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