JAL Announces Plans for new Dreamliner Cabins on International Routes

JAL Group has announced its flight frequency and fleet plans on both international and domestic routes for fiscal year 2015 (ending March 31, 2016)

Japan Airlines fleet plans to include newly added 787-9s, configured to the airline’s latest cabin interior – the JAL Sky Suite, from July 2015. This will be in addition to the JAL Sky Suite configured aircraft which include the airline’s 767/777 and 787’s. The new Dreamliners with the Sky Suite will offer 44 fully-flat beds in business class, a new premium economy section with 35 seats, and 116 wider seats in economy class.

The B787-9 will make its international debut on the Tokyo Narita-Jakarta route from 1 July 2015, marking one of a series of Dreamliner deployments planned by JAL this year. The airline’s B787-8s with Sky Suite cabins will also be rolled out on the Narita-Paris and Narita-Delhi routes from 29 March, and on the Narita-Helsinki route from 1 June.

The airline also plans to expand the number of aircraft with JAL Sky Wider seats in Economy Class on more international routes to improve customer comfort and service.

JAL intends to increase flight frequencies on its Tokyo Narita – Moscow route from three to four weekly, to meet the increase in business travel demand.

With regards to the airline’s domestic network, JAL will adjust its flight frequency plans on select domestic routes, primarily to and from Tokyo Haneda, which will result in the reintroduction of continuous summer operations of six domestic routes.

These include Itami – Matsumotot, Itami – Memanbetsu, Sapporo – Izumo, Sapporo – Tokushima, Nagoya – Kushiro and Nagoya – Obihiro.

Haneda – Sapporo, Haneda – Okinawa and Itami – Sapporo will see service increases, from 16 – 17 daily, 12 – 14 daily and 3 – 4 daily respectively.

JAL plans to suspend its Osaka Kansai – Seoul Gimpo daily round-trip operation from March 29, 2015, although JAL maintains its codeshare flights operated by Korean Air between Kansai and Seoul’s Gimpo, and between Kansai and Seoul’s Incheon.

Finally, on Japan Airlines Tokyo Narita - Jakarta route, First Class service is Cancelled, with the Boeing 787-9 replacing the 777-300ER, and on the airline's Tokyo Narita - Sydney route, First Class Service is also cancelled, with the Boeing 777-200ER replacing the -300ER.