By Andrew Chen
Japan Airlines Announces Flagship Airbus A350-1000
Japan Airlines has announced that the Airbus A350-1000 will be its new international flagship aircraft. The Tokyo-based carrier will be debuting its first flagship aircraft in two decades in the second part of 2023.
The Airbus A350-1000 will be replacing the Boeing 777-300ER, as Japan Airlines’ international flagship aircraft. The airline received its first Boeing 777-300ER in 2004, and it has served as the carrier’s premier international aircraft. Japan Airlines has 13 Airbus A350-1000s on order, which will be replacing the airline’s current fleet of 13 Boeing 777-300ERs.
In a recent press release, Japan Airlines stated that their A350-1000s will enter service in the Tokyo to New York market on flights between Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport in winter 2023. Although no other further route announcements have been made, it is likely that the A350-1000 will be deployed to current 777-300ER destinations such as Paris, London, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Japan Airlines has not yet announced any details of the cabin configuration or products but there are some indications of what to expect. First Class seats are currently on sale on the Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to New York JFK route through next winter so it does not appear that the carrier is doing away with its First Class.
The carrier already has a set of respectable international premium products and the airline stated in a press release that with the A350-1000, it will be “developing new cabin specifications for international flights to provide a new unprecedented experience for each and every one of our customers.”
It appears that the A350-1000 will have a four-cabin configuration, just like the 777-300ERs that it is replacing. While very few details of the new offerings have been released, the carrier is certainly aware that its main competitor, All Nippon Airways, introduced a stunningly spacious business class suite called The Room a few years ago.
The bar for premium international products in the Japanese market is high and Japan Airlines will be striving to deliver a competitive product.
Japan Airlines already has 16 Airbus A350-900s in its fleet, with another two on order. These aircraft are used on domestic routes and have high-density seating configurations.
The airline’s A350 fleet will therefore be split into two distinct parts, with the A350-1000s serving international routes while the A350-900 operates throughout the airline’s domestic network. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have long had a need for large, high-density aircraft for the country’s busiest domestic routes. Japan Airlines’ A350-900s have the highest capacity of any aircraft type in the fleet, with some planes configured with nearly 400 seats.
Despite the carrier’s new commitment to its A350 fleet, Japan Airlines has traditionally been a Boeing operator. Even after the introduction of the A350-1000, the airline will have nearly 50 Boeing 787 aircraft. The A350 will be the carrier’s only Airbus aircraft, with the rest of the fleet consisting of Boeing 737s, Boeing 767s and Boeing 777s.
Even historically, the airline has largely operated aircraft from Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, both of which later merged into the Boeing that exists today. Notably, Japan Airlines has operated a large number of Boeing 747 aircraft, ranging from the Boeing 747-100 to the high-density Boeing 747-400D.
Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.