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JAL’s History - History of JAS

(JAS)1952-2004
We will walk you through the history of Japan Air System (JAS), from its founding to its merger with JAL in 2004 aimed at improving customer convenience and surviving global competition.


7.4
Establishment of “KABUSHIKIGAISYA NIHON KANKOU HIKOU KYOUKAI” (Japan Sightseeing Flight Association ). (capital 50 million yen).
9.13
Establishment of Fuji Airline Co., Ltd. (capital 10 million yen).

6.30
Establishment of Establishment of North Japan Aviation Co., Ltd.(capital 55 million yen).
11.30
Establishment of Toa Domestic Airlines (capital 10 million yen).

3.1
Change of company name from “KABUSHIKIGAISYA NIHON KANKOU HIKOU KYOUKAI” to Nitto Aviation Co., Ltd.

4.15
Establishment of Japan Domestic Airlines through merger of three companies, Nitto, Fuji and North Japan (capital 3, 480 million yen).

5.15
Establishment of Toa Domestic Airlines. Merger of Japan Domestic Airlines and Toa Domestic Airlines (capital 9,525 million yen. Representative Director, Chairman, Yaichi Shimomura下村彌一、Representative Director, President, Goro Tominaga. Head Office in Haneda, Japan Airlines Maintenance Center Haneda (Haneda Airport 1-chome, 9-1, Ota-ku, Tokyo).
10.1
Renewal of Stewardess and ground staff uniforms.

8.1
Introduced Tokyo=Oita route with B727.
10.18
Operation of TDA Sky Call (first online booking system).

5.31
Withdrawal of De Havilland DH-114TAW (Tawron) from service, final flight Yakushima=Tanegashima (JA6162、JA6163).
10.29
Decision of DC-9 aircraft new color marking “red&green”.
12.1
Introduction of DC-9-31 on Tokyo =Kushiro route.

3.16
DC-9-41 No. 1 aircraft (JA8423)arrives at Tokyo International Airport .
4.3
Introduction of DC-9-41 on Tokyo =Oita route
10.31
Operation of Tokyo =Fukuoka “Moonlight” late-night flight, then suspended.
12.1
Completion of facility relocation from Okadama Airport to Chitose Airport and start of operations.

1.6
Withdrawal of B727 from serviced, final flight Oita =Tokyo flight 336.
3.1
Launch of Tokyo =Sapporo and Tokyo =Fukuoka routes with DC-9-41.
5.1
Launch of Tokyo =Nagasaki route with DC-9-41. First double track route.
8.1
Operation on Oita =Okinawa, Miyazaki =Okinawa, Nagasaki =Okinawa routes with DC-9-41 during Okinawa Marine Exposition.
10.1
Renewal of stewardess uniforms(changed to cerulean blue).

3.22
Change of YS-11 aircraft color marking to “red&green”
10.1
Renewal of ground hostess uniforms for first time in 5 years.

2.18
Introduction of passenger transport bus “Auto Lounge” to replace boarding bridge at Chitose Airport.
4.25
Launch of first scheduled flight routes, Nagoya, Nagoya =Nagasaki and Nagoya =Sendai, with DC-9-41.
7.29
Named world’s best DC-9 operator for on-time departure rate in 1976 by Douglas Aircraft Company.

7.20
Launch of 3 double track routes, Tokyo =Hakodate, Tokyo =Kumamoto and Tokyo =Kagoshima, with DC-9-41.

11.4
Release of new reservation system “Sky Call Ⅲ”.
12.10
Decision of “Rainbow Color” as Airbus A300 color marking.

12.3
Airbus A300 No. 1 aircraft (JA8464) arrives at Tokyo International Airport.

2.2
DC-9-81 No. 1 aircraft (JA8458 ) arrives at Tokyo International Airport.
3.1
Introduction of A300 on Tokyo =Kagoshima route, DC-9-81 on Tokyo =Misawa route.
10.1
Release of transmission and operation system “TDA Flight Call” .

7.21
Operation of mystery flight “Arcadia” to unknown destination from Haneda Airport(DC-9-41, YS-11)
10.2
HM Emperor and party board special aircraft(Tokyo =Izumo)to attend 37th National Sports Festival in Shimane Prefecture (first time for HM Emperor to board TDA aircraft).

7.1
Establishment of Japan Air Commuter through third sector method .
12.10
Transfer of 4 Amami routes to Japan Air Commuter Co., Ltd.

1.29
The Crown Prince and Princess attend 39th National Sports Winter Festival in Kushiro City. Return aboard scheduled flight 138 from Kushiro ―Tokyo.
10.13
The Crown Prince and Princess board scheduled flight 231 between Tokyo ―Hanamaki to attend 8th National Tree Planting Festival in Iwate Prefecture (return on 10.15 Hanamaki ―Tokyo scheduled flight 234).

1.30
Decision of “Rainbow Color” (red, blue, yellow)as MD-81 aircraft color marking.
3.17
Transport of passengers by helicopter to Tsukuba Science Exposition (Haneda=Tsukuba, Haneda=Narita, Narita =Tsukuba until 9.16).
4.12
MD-81 No. 1 aircraft (JA8496) arrives at Tokyo International Airport .
5.1
Introduction of D-81 on Tokyo =Obihiro and Tokyo =Misawa routes.
9.5
Launch of air parcel flight “TDA Rainbow Service” .

4.2
Airbus A300-B4 No. 1 aircraft (JA8237) arrives at Tokyo International Airport.
9.19
Operation of first international charter flight between Osaka =Seoul with DC-9-81.

3.23
Registration of shares in Tokyo over-the-counter market. Selling and purchasing begins.
4.27
Membership to International Air Transport Association (IATA).
11.1
Release of integrated information system “Sky Call ” .

4.1
Chance of company name from Toa Domestic Airlines to JAPAN AIR SYSTEM CO. LTD.
4.8
DC-10-30 No. 1 aircraft (JA8550) arrives at Tokyo International Airport.
6.9
MD-87 No. 1 aircraft (JA8278) arrives at Tokyo International Airport.
6.16
Introduction of MD-87 on Tokyo =Obihiro route.
6.27
Decision of first dividends by a resolution at 25th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders.
7.1
Launch of first international scheduled flights between Narita =Seoul with A300.
7.1
First publication of inflight magazine “ARCAS” (bimonthly).
7.23
Launch of Tokyo =Okinawa route with DC-10-30 and A300.
10.1
Renewal of ground staff and stewardess uniforms.

3.13
Receives A300 Outstanding Operator Award from Airbus Industrie as world’s best A300 operator for departure reliability, etc. in 1987 - 1988.
5.20
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress board special aircraft (Tokyo =Tokushima) to attend 40th National Tree Planting Festival (return 5.21).
10.1
Docking of computer system with JR multi-system. Sales of air tickets at JR Ticket Office begin.

2.3
Launch of 2 round-trip flights a week between Narita =Singapore with DC-10-30.
7.21
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress board special aircraft (Tokyo =Aomori ) to attend 10th National Healthy Ocean Festival held in Aomori Prefecture(return 7.23).
12.25
Establishment of Nitto 航空 Maintenance Co., Ltd.

6.3
Launch of Narita =Honolulu route with DC-10-30.
6.5
A300-600R No. 1 aircraft (JA8375) arrives at Tokyo International Airport .
7.10
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress board scheduled flight 361 Tokyo ―Nagasaki to visit Mt. Unzen Fugen-dake eruption disaster areas in Nagasaki Prefecture.
7.20
Introduction of A300-600R on Tokyo =Sapporo and Tokyo =Aomori routes.

3.31
Closing of Helicopter Business Department after 40 year history (disband)s.
5.9
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress board special aircraft (Tokyo =Fukuoka) to attend 43rd National Tree Planting Festival in Fukuoka(return 5.13).

1.17
Operation of one round-trip temporary flight a day between Sapporo =Kushiro from January 17 to January 26 for Kushiro earthquake disaster relief operations.
10.23
HM the Emperor boards special aircraft (Tokyo ―Tokushima) to attend 48th National Sports Festival in Tokushima and Kagawa Prefectures (return Takamatsu ―Tokyo on 10.27) .

4.1
Launch of Aircraft Factory Tour Program at Haneda Airport.
7.22
Launch of advance check-in at 4 airports; Chitose, Haneda, Osaka, Fukuoka; seat selection and baggage check-in on all flights from sales start time to last flight that day.
9.4
Opening of Kansai International Airport; 10 routes and 14 round-trips.
9.15
Launch of Raku Raku VIP Service for customers age 65 and over.

1.17
Free transport of relief supplies and temporary flights from January 18 to April 10 for southern Hyogo Prefecture earthquake disaster relief operations; 1,219 flight, 139,717 passengers.
7.26
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress board special aircraft for “Post-war 50 Years Memorial Journey” (Tokyo ―Nagasaki ―Hiroshima ―Tokyo :-7.27).
8.1
Launch of JAS Ticketless Service; buy ticket with card at reservation, check-in by showing card at the counter on the day of departure.
10.2
Launch of Kansai =Guangzhou route with A300-600R.
11.7
Decision of D-90 color marking, designed by world renowned movie director Akira Kurosawa. Theme is “Morning in Japan” and “Seven colors of rainbow decorating skies of Japan”.

1.9
D-90 No. 1 aircraft (JA8064) arrives at Tokyo International Airport.
3.3
Launch of world’s first women’s toilet onboard “Floral Room” service.
3.8
Last flight of YS-11(Nanki Shirahama=Tokyo , flight 996).
4.1
Introduction of MD-90 between Tokyo =Nagasaki, Tokyo =Obihiro, Tokyo =Aomori .
4.22
Solicit ideas for B777 color marking from public on Internet, etc.
9.18
Launch of “ON-LINE with JAS” reservation and ticketless service on the computer. Change from booking by phone to booking on computer.
10.11
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress board special aircraft (Tokyo =Hiroshima) to attend 15th National Sports Festival in Hiroshima Prefecture (return 10.13).

1.17
Withdrawal of DC-9-41 from service, final flight Misawa =Tokyo flight 224.
1.20
Establishment of Harlequin Air Corporation.
1.28
B777 No. 1 aircraft (JA8977) arrives at Tokyo International Airport.
4.1
Cabin attendants start of wear new uniforms. Ground staff from 6.1 summer uniform.
4.1
Introduction of B777 between Tokyo =Fukuoka (2 round-trips a day) and beween Tokyo =Sapporo ( 1 round-trip a day). 12 Super Seats, 38 Rainbow Seats 330 Regular Seats. Japan’s first 3 class configuration for domestic flights.
6.2
Launch of Kansai =Hong Kong route with A300-600R.
9.1
Introduction of Japan’s first ad painted jet “JAS Pocari Sweat” A300-600R (JA8562) on major domestic routes .
9.29
Establishment of Hokkaido Air System Co., Ltd.

1.8
Wet lease operation by Harlequin Air on select JAS domestic routes.
7.17
No smoking in all seats on all flights on domestic routes(from October 29, 2000 on international flights).
8.6
Introduction of new automated check-in machine (SCM) and operations begin.

1.30
Launch of Narita =Hong Kong route with A300-600R.
3.28
Launch of Kansai =Kunming route with A300-600R.
4.5
Launch of Narita =Guangzhou route with DC-10.
4.6
Launch of Narita =Xian roue with DC-10.
4.26
Launch of Kansai =Xian route with A300-600R.
8.31
Withdrawal of DC-9-81 from service, final flight Amami Oshima ―Tokyo flight 548.

3.26
Launch of Kansai =Seoul route with A300-600R.
3.30
Last flight of DC-1 (Harlequin Air charter flight, Kagoshima ―Kansai ).
10.6
Operation of two round-trip temporary flights a day between Tokyo =Izumo for passengers for 2 days, October 6 and October 7, for west Tottori Prefecture earthquake disaster relief operations.

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