note
National airline of Japan was formed on August 1 1951. Airline was privately owned and started domestic operations in October 1951 using leased Martin 202 aircraft. Airline was reorganized in October 1953 with government becoming sole shareholder. The same same year Douglas DC-6s were introduced, enableing overseas expansion of its network. First jet service was inaugurated in August 1960 from Tokyo to San Francisco and still to this day, airline operates this route as JL001/002 flights. Japan Air Lines took delivery of its first Boeing 747 in April 1970 and was a launch customer of the type. Over the years Japan Air Lines became largest Boeing 747 operator with 100th being delivered in November 1998. Japan Air Lines also used special 747SR variant which had strengthened fuselage for extra cycles and could carry over 500 passengers in all economy seating and was used on short domestic network. JAL was privatized by 1987. In 2001 JAL and JAS, largest domestic airline, announced merger. The new company was formed called Japan Airlines System which took over both carriers. 2004 saw another change of brand when two new companies under the JAL Group were formed. Japan Airlines Domestic and Japan Airlines International. This did not last too long, and in 2006 both branches were integrated under Japan Airlines brand. JAL is, since April 2007, member of Oneworld Alliance.
founded - demised (age)
September 1 1951 - present (74years)
headquarters
Shinagawa, Tokyo
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (159)
