Japan Airlines fleet

Aircraft operated by Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines operates a fleet of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft manufactured by Airbus and Boeing. This does not include aircraft operated by JAL Group regional subsidiaries such as Hokkaido Air System, J-Air, Japan Transocean Air or Ryukyu Air Commuter.

## Current fleet

[edit]

As of June 2025[update], Japan Airlines operates the following mainline aircraft:[1][2][3]

Japan Airlines fleet  Aircraft  | In service  | Orders  | Passengers  | Notes

|
|
|
|

F | J | W | Y | Total
Airbus A321neo | —  | 11  | TBA | Deliveries to commence in 2028.[4]
Airbus A350-900 | 15  | 3  | 12  | 94  | —  | 263  | 369  | Order with 25 options.[5]
Domestic configuration.
One additional aircraft to be delivered in 2025 as a replacement for the aircraft written off as Flight 516.[4]
56  | 323  | 391
—  | 20  | TBA | International configuration.
Deliveries to commence in 2027.[4]
Airbus A350-1000 | 9  | 4  | 6  | 54  | 24  | 155  | 239[6] | Replacing Boeing 777-300ER.
Boeing 737-800 | 7  | —  | —  | 12 | —  | 132  | 144  | International configuration.
35  | 20 | 145  | 165  | Domestic configuration.
Boeing 737 MAX 8 | —  | 38  | TBA | Deliveries to commence in 2026.[7][8]
Boeing 767-300ER | 8  | —  | —  | 24 | —  | 175 | 199  | International configuration.
7  | 42 | 219  | 261  | Domestic configuration.
9  | 5 | 205  | 252
Boeing 777-300ER | 11  | —  | 8 | 49 | 40 | 147 | 244  | To be retired and replaced by Airbus A350-1000 in 2025.[9]
Includes the first Boeing 777-300ER prototype (JA732J).
Boeing 787-8 | 10  | —  | —  | 30 | —  | 156  | 186  | International configuration.
9  | 176  | 206
4  | 6  | 58 | 227  | 291  | Domestic configuration.
Boeing 787-9 | 10  | 10  | —  | 44 | 35 | 116 | 195  | Deliveries through 2027.[4]
10 to be transferred to Zipair Tokyo from 2027.[8]
Order with 10 options.[10]
4  | 52 | 203
8  | 28 | 21 | 190 | 239
JAL Cargo fleet
Boeing 767-300BCF | 3  | —  | Cargo | [11]
Total  | 150  | 86  |

### Gallery

[edit]

* Airbus A350-900

* Airbus A350-1000

* Boeing 737-800

* Boeing 767-300ER

* Boeing 777-300ER

* Boeing 787-8

* Boeing 787-9

As the Japanese government plans to add more slots at Tokyo's Haneda Airport by 2020 (in time for the 2020 Summer Olympics), Japan Airlines intends to order more wide-bodies for growth in 2018 or 2019: it could exercise its 25 options on Airbus A350s on top of its 31 firm orders, due for delivery from 2019, and study others such as the proposed Boeing New Midsize Airplane or the 787-10 to add to its 787-9 with 10 remaining to be delivered.[12] Japan Airlines' Airbus A350 is currently maintained via the MRO subsidiary of Safran, OEMServices.[13]

Japan Airlines operates a mixture of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. The airline provides economy class service on all routes; business class (J) service with larger seats in the cabin front on most major domestic routes; premium economy on some international routes; business class on all international routes; and first class on some long-haul and domestic routes.

On 5 December 2017, JAL announced it had invested $10 million in the aircraft manufacturer Boom Supersonic, which is currently developing the Overture superonic airliner capable of seating up to 80 passengers. In exchange for its funding, JAL will be able to pre-order up to 20 Boom aircraft.[14]

### Cargo

[edit]

JAL Cargo is a freighter airline operating for JAL. It ended dedicated freighter aircraft operations in October 2010 after more than 30 years of service. It operated both propeller and jet aircraft through the years, most recently, Boeing 747-400s (including aircraft converted from passenger to freighter configuration) and Boeing 767-300Fs. However, in 2023, JAL announced that they would bring back dedicated cargo 767 freighters, in a response to changes in labor regulations forcing Japanese truckers to work less hours.[15]

## Former fleet

[edit]

A Boeing 727-100 at Tokyo's Haneda Airport in 1964. A Boeing 747-100BSR/SUD with stretched upper deck in 1987. A Boeing 747-400 with Yokoso! Japan tiles. A Boeing 747-400D (Domestic Version). JAL Cargo Boeing 747-400BCF just after takeoff from London Heathrow Airport in 2007. A Boeing 777-200ER with Oneworld livery. A Convair 880 at Los Angeles International Airport in 1964. A Douglas DC-8-53 at New York in 1970. This aircraft would later crash as Japan Air Lines Flight 471 in 1972. A McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40. A McDonnell Douglas MD-11.

Japan Airlines previously operated the following aircraft:[16]

Japan Airlines historical fleet  Aircraft  | Total  | Introduced  | Retired  | Notes

|
|
|
|

Airbus A300-600R | 22  | 2006  | 2011  | Taken over from merged Japan Air System.
Airbus A350-900 | 1  | 2021  | 2024  | Written off as flight JL516.
Beechcraft H18[17] | Un­known  | 1969  | Un­known  | Used for pilot training.[18]
Boeing 727-100 | Un­known  | 1965  | 1988  |
Boeing 737-400 | 7  | 1995  | 2003  |
Boeing 747-100 | 7  | 1970  | 2002  | Launch customer with Pan Am.
1  | 1977  | Converted into a freighter and transferred to JAL Cargo.
Boeing 747-100SF | 1  | 1977  | 1992  |
Boeing 747SR-100 | 9  | 1973  | 2005  | Launch customer.
1  | 1985  | Crashed as flight JL123.
Boeing 747SR-100/SUD | 2  | 1986  | 2006  |
Boeing 747-200B | 23  | 1971  | 2007  |
2  | 1973  | Converted into freighters and transferred to JAL Cargo.
Boeing 747-200F | 8  | 1991  | 2008  |
Boeing 747-200SF | 3  | 1974  | 2007  |
Boeing 747-300 | 16  | 1983  | 2009  |
Boeing 747-400 | 28  | 1990  | 2011  |
6  | 2005  | Converted into freighters and transferred to JAL Cargo.
Boeing 747-400BCF | 6  | 2006  | 2010  |
Boeing 747-400D | 8  | 1991  | 2011  | Launch customer.
Boeing 747-400F | 2  | 1991  | 2011  |
Boeing 767-200 | 4  | 1985  | 2011  |
Boeing 767-300 | 20  | 1986  | 2021  | Launch customer.
Boeing 767-300ERF | 3  | 2007  | 2010  | Production freighters for JAL Cargo before suspension of dedicated cargo services.
Boeing 777-200 | 8  | 1996  | 2021  | [19]
7  | Taken over from merged Japan Air System.
Boeing 777-200ER | 11  | 2002  | 2023  | [9][20]
Boeing 777-300 | 7  | 1998  | 2021  | [19]
Boeing 777-300ER | 2  | 2005  | 2025  | Includes the second Boeing 777-300ER prototype (JA731J).
Convair 880 | 9  | 1961  | 1971  |
Douglas DC-3 | 1  | 1951  | 1951  | Operated invitational flights for three days on 27 August 1951.
Douglas DC-4 | 2  | 1952  | 1964  |
Douglas DC-6B | 10  | 1954  | 1969  | Operated the airline's inaugural international flight.
Some aircraft were converted into freighters.
Douglas DC-7C | 5  | 1958  | 1965  | Some aircraft were converted into freighters.
Douglas DC-8-30 | 4  | 1960  | 1975  |
Douglas DC-8-50 | 15  | 1962  | 1982  |
1  | 1972  | Crashed as flight JL471.
Douglas DC-8-60 | 29  | 1968  | 1988  |
1  | 1968  | Crashed as flight JL2.
1  | 1972  | Crashed as flight JL446.
1  | 1977  | Crashed as flight JL715.
1  | 1982  | Crashed as flight JL350.
Douglas DC-8-60F | 4  | 1968  | 1988  |
1  | 1977  | Crashed as flight JL1045.
Martin 2-0-2 | 2  | 1951  | Un­known  | Operated the airline's inaugural scheduled flight.
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40 | 20  | 1976  | 2005  |
McDonnell Douglas MD-11 | 10  | 1993  | 2004  | All MD-11s were named after J-Birds. Later sold to UPS Airlines for freighter conversion.
McDonnell Douglas MD-81 | 11  | 2006  | 2010  | Taken over from merged Japan Air System.
McDonnell Douglas MD-87 | 8  | 2006  | 2008  | Taken over from merged Japan Air System.
McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 | 16  | 2006  | 2013  | Taken over from merged Japan Air System.
NAMC YS-11 | 1  | 1969  | 1970  | Used for postal service.
1  | Used for passenger service.
Tupolev Tu-114[21] | 1  | 1967  | 1969  | Used in association with Aeroflot.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "World Airliner Census 2017". Flight International. 15 August 2017. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
2. ^ "Domestic aircraft and seat configurations". Japan Airlines. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
3. ^ "International aircraft and seat configurations". Japan Airlines. Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
4. ^ a b c d "Japan Airlines to Introduce 42 New Aircraft from Airbus and Boeing". Japan Airlines (Press release). March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
5. ^ "Airbus and Japan Airlines sign their first ever order" (Press release). Japan Airlines. 7 October 2013. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
6. ^ "JAL Unveils New International Flagship Airbus A350-1000 Cabin Interiors Ahead of Upcoming Service Launch to New York".
7. ^ "Japan Airlines Selects 737-8 to Grow Sustainable World-Class Fleet" (Press release). Boeing Media Room. 23 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
8. ^ a b Spanjevic, Aleksa (March 19, 2025). "JAL to add seventeen B737-8s, Zipair to take B787-9s". ch-aviation. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
9. ^ a b "Japan Airlines to replace B777s with A350s by late 1Q23". Ch-Aviation. 11 May 2021. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
10. ^ "Japan Airlines orders 10 Boeing 787-9s, takes options for 10 more". Reuters. 22 July 2024.
11. ^ "Japan Airlines to re-introduce B767-300 freighters". Ch-Aviation. 4 May 2023.
12. ^ Adrian Schofield (6 November 2017). "Japan Airlines Considers Fleet-Plan Options". Aviation Week Network. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
13. ^ "JAL awards OEMS component support contract of its A350s". Avitrader. 11 November 2018. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
14. ^ "Thanks to supersonic flight, we may be able to cross the Atlantic in half the time". Futurism. 9 December 2017. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
15. ^ Brett, Damian (2023-05-03). "JAL returns to the freighter market to combat truck driver shortage". Air Cargo News. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
16. ^ "History of Aircraft". Japan Airlines. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
17. ^ "World Airline Directory – Japan Air Lines". Flight International. Reed Business Information. 20 March 1975. p. 490\. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
18. ^ Phillips, Edward H. (1992). Beechcraft: Pursuit of Perfection; A History of Beechcraft Airplanes. Eagan, Minnesota: Flying Books. p. 27\. ISBN 0-911139-11-7.
19. ^ a b "Japan Airlines to retire its domestic Boeing 777s". Executive Traveller. 30 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
20. ^ "Japan Airlines ends B777-200ER operations". Ch-Aviation. 13 November 2023.
21. ^ "Japan, Soviet Sign Air Pact". The Akron Beacon Journal. AP. 21 Jan 1967. p. 11. Retrieved 1 January 2024 – via newspapers.com.

*[F]: First Class
*[J]: Business Class
*[W]: Premium Economy Class
*[Y]: Economy Class
*[TBA]: To Be Announced
*[12]: Sky Deluxe Seat
*[20]: Class J
*[24]: Sky Suite II
*[175]: JAL Sky Wider
*[42]: Class J
*[5]: First Class
*[8]: JAL Suite
*[49]: JAL Sky Suite
*[40]: JAL Sky Premium
*[147]: JAL Sky Wider
*[30]: JAL Sky Suite/Shell Flat Neo
*[58]: Class J
*[44]: JAL Sky Suite
*[35]: JAL Sky Premium
*[116]: JAL Sky Wider
*[52]: JAL Sky Suite III
*[28]: JAL Sky Suite III
*[21]: JAL Sky Premium
*[190]: JAL Sky Wider
*[Cargo]: No seats, cargo configuration