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JAL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

2024.02.02

JAL's trajectory through
70 years of international flights

For 70 years, JAL's frontier spirit

has created connections with
the world through the ages

Major milestones
in the 1950s

JAL was born in 1951 amid a movement to resume civil aviation, which had been banned after the war. Initially, JAL borrowed planes from other companies and outsourced operations and maintenance, but in 1952 we began our own independent operations. In February of 1954, JAL launched our first international flights. The words "WINGS OF THE NEW JAPAN" were emblazoned on the aircraft bodies. JAL's entry into the international market was based on our desire to connect with the world through the wings of a new Japan.

International flights
launched

  • 1951

    Japan Airlines established

  • 1953

    Introduction of DC-6B aircraft used for international flights at the time

  • 1954

    Start of international flights

    With the establishment of the Tokyo - Wake Island (refueling point) - Honolulu - San Francisco route, Japan's first scheduled international service was launched. The one-way fare at that time was ¥234,000.

1954/02/02

Crew members of the
first international flight

1953~

Rigorous cabin attendant training
by instructors of United Airlines

Rigorous cabin attendant
training by instructors of
United Airlines

Japanese-style
hospitality in kimono

Uchiwa fans and picture-postcards offered to
passengers to demonstrate Japanese culture.

[Pick up Items] Poster and timetable at the time of launch of international flights

  • Birth of the "Tsurumaru"
    (crane motif) logo

↓

Major milestones
in the 1960s

With the advent of the jet aircraft era, the Tokyo Olympics and the liberalization of overseas travel, JAL builds connections to the rest of the world. Southeast Asian routes, European routes, Middle Eastern routes, routes to America's eastern seaboard...
In 1967, the start of the round-the-world route marked the final touch on Japan's return to the international stage after World War II.

The dawn of the jet era
and the liberalization
of overseas travel

  • 1960

    Arrival of Japan's first jet passenger aircraft, DC-8

  • 1961

    Northbound Europe route launched

  • 1964

    Transporting the Olympic Flame to the Tokyo Olympics

    Liberalization of Overseas Travel

  • 1965

    JALPAK
    (overseas package tours)
    sales started

1965/04/10

JALPAK sales initiated

JALPAK was a groundbreaking style of travel that made overseas travel, once considered a longed-for experience, more accessible by offering a complete package of airfare, hotel, meals, and guidance by a tour conductor. The first group was a 16-day trip to Europe for ¥675,000.

1965/04/10
  • 1966

    New York route launched

The first flight
of New York route

1966/11/12
  • 1967

    Round-the-world route established

    With the establishment of the
    round-the-world route, "Wings of Japan connecting the world"

1967/03/06

The first flight of
round-the-world route

[Pick up Items] First Flight Cover, souvenir commemorating the launch of round-the-world route
↓

Major milestones
in the 1970s

With the liberalization of overseas travel and increasing national income, demand for overseas travel soared. Capturing this trend, JAL introduced jumbo jets in timely manner. New Tokyo International Airport (now Narita International Airport) opened, and Japan entered into the era of full-scale mass transportation. Meanwhile, in order for young people from the overseas cities it served at the time see the true Japan, JAL developed an exchange program for young people in Asia and Oceania, which continues to this day.

Into the era of mass
transportation, creating
new connections

  • 1970

    Popularly known as
    "Jumbo Jet,"
    the Boeing 747 enters service.

1970

Boeing 747 first class
inflight service

  • 1972

    Transporting giant pandas from China

    Two pandas, Kang Kang and Lan Lan, presented to Japan from China as a symbol of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

1972/10/28

Transporting giant
pandas from China

  • 1975

    JAL Scholarship program established

1975~

JAL Scholarship
program established

This program invites university students from Asia and Oceania to Japan to promote mutual understanding across borders through training and cultural exchange with Japanese students, with the aim of cultivating young people who will lead the Asia and Oceania region in the future. To date, 1,641 students from overseas have participated in the program, which is ongoing today.

  • 1978

    New Tokyo International Airport (now Narita International Airport) opens

New Tokyo
International Airport

1978
↓

Major milestones
in the 1980s

In the 1983 IATA annual report, JAL ranked first in international scheduled flight traffic. Meanwhile, an overhaul of airline policy loosened entry restrictions on international and domestic routes, allowing JAL to enter the domestic regional market and create new connections within Japan. After full privatization, we were reborn as the new JAL and entered an era of heated competition.

A newly privatized
JAL heads into an era
of high competition

  • 1985

    Boeing 767
    enters service

    This medium sized aircraft was known as a "high-tech plane." Computers handle the duties of flight engineers. Encouraged the entry of domestic regional routes.

  • Introduction of the "JALPAS"
    integrated passenger system

    Significantly shortened waiting times and eliminated protocols during transfers, greatly improving convenience.

1985/07/01

Innauguration of
atmospheric observation
by airliner project

  • 1986

    A first global direct service
    to Europe passing over
    Siberia on the Tokyo
    (Narita) - Paris route.

    Thereafter, the Tokyo (Narita) - London route entered service. Compared to European routes that passed over the North Pole, flight times were reduced by 4 and a half hours.

  • Domestic regional
    routes established
    Haneda - Kagoshima route
    Haneda - Komatsu route
    Nagoya - Fukuoka route

1986

World's first direct flights
to Europe via
trans-Siberian route

1986/07/20

Haneda - Kagoshima
route established

  • 1987

    Full privatized

1987

Full privatization

  • 1987

    Logo renewal

↓

Major milestones
in the 1990s

The market experienced major upheaval due to the global economic downturn. The company embarked on restructuring efforts in response to fierce competition from overseas airlines and the persistent preference for low-priced airfares due to the Japanese yen's sharp appreciation. Also at that time, JAL began initiatives that focused on global environmental issues that continue to today. JAL rolled out the fuel-efficient, low-noise Boeing 777s. The company has been working on initiatives to address societal issues since the 1990s.

Looking to the Future
of the
Aviation Industry

  • 1990

    Boeing 747-400 aircraft
    enters service

    A new generation of high-tech jumbo jets known as the "Dash 400." The engines had more thrust and better fuel economy.

Boeing 747-400
isometric view

1990
  • 1991

    Innauguration of atmospheric observation project using the air sampling equipment installed on the aircraft

Inauguration of the atmosphericobservation project using the airsampling equipment installedon the aircraft

As a joint government-private project, the world's first continuous global observation of greenhouse gases by scheduled passenger flights was launched.
The objective of the project is to use commercial aircraft to monitor a wide range of greenhouse gases and their variations in order to elucidate the mechanisms of the global carbon cycle.
Observations are still ongoing by Boeing 777 aircraft as part of the CONTRAIL* Project."

* CONTRAIL - "Comprehensive Observation Network for TRace gases by AIr Liner" is a play on the English word "contrail," itself a portmanteau of "condensation trail"

Maintenance engineers
installing the atmospheric
observation equipment in the
cargo hold of an airplane

1991
  • 1994

    Reso'cha

    Campaigns on resort routes that ran until 2008. Specially painted aircraft were launched, and a variety of inflight activies for passengers using the catch-phrase "feel like you're at a resort from the moment you board the plane" were introduced.

  • 1996

    Boeing 777 aircraft
    entered service

    In addition to being more comfortable, the planes were more fuel-efficient and less noisy.

Aircraft emblazoned
with Reso'cha
paint scheme

1994
↓

Major milestones
in the 2000s

Expanding our network by joining the oneworld alliance. After the bankruptcy in 2010, there was a major change in the way of thinking on the part of all of our employees. We aim to redouble our past efforts to address societal issues to create a safe & secure society and a sustainable future, while achieving long-term growth in corporate value.

Aiming toward a
sustainable society

  • 2004

    Business integration between JAL and JAS to further improve customer convenience and strengthen competitiveness.

  • 2007

    Joined oneworld, one of the major global aviation alliances.

    Sought to expand our network and services.

2007

Joined oneworld, one
of the major global
aviation alliances.

  • 2011

    Launched "JAPAN PROJECT, "
    a regional revitalization project

    *currently known as "JAL FURUSATO PROJECT." "furusato" means "hometown" in Japanese.

  • 2018

    Skytrax World Airline Star Rating recognizes JAL as a global top-quality airline providing 5 Star service. Award received in 6 consecutive years

  • 2019

    Started using environmentally-friendly materials for straws and stirrers in our cabins and lounges

  • 2020

    Aiming for virtually zero CO2 emissions by 2050
    Announced "Net Zero Emissions" externally
    Succeeded for the first time in producing SAF domestically from clothing cotton as a feedstock

2022/11/18

JAL2030 Sustainable
Charter Flight

  • 2023

    The only Japanese airline to receive the APEX* WORLD CLASSTM award. Awarded received in 3 consecutive years.

2023/09/22

Earned the
APEX WORLD CLASS ™
award for 3 consecutive years.

JAL has also received the ‘Best-in-Class in Safety and Well-Being’ award for its outstanding efforts in safety, security, and well-being.

*APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Association) is one of the largest international airline associations based in North America. It is a non-profit global organization with participation from airlines, airports, airline-related suppliers, and other industry stakeholders worldwide.

2023/09/22
↓

Fly into
tomorrow

JAL will continue to connect
dreams from the skies.