Japanese airlines have been very loyal to the 787. ANA and JAL were the two first customers of the 787, and have the two largest fleets of the plane. Although ANA has by far the largest number of 787s, JAL seems keen to add to their fleet. JAL ordered 4 more 787s, to fuel their expansion plans. The airline just a few years ago was struggling, as they retired their 747s, and cut some routes. Since then, JAL has had a strong resurgence. Their Joint Venture with American has been very fruitful, and they are adding partners throughout the world. They recently added Vistara as a partner.
What to Expect
JAL has one of the most comfortable 787s out there. The airline offers two kinds of business class on their planes. The Sky Suite II, which is offered on some of the 787s and 777-300ERS, consists of the APEX Suite Seats, which are staggered. These seats offer almost absolute privacy for the window seats.
Their new Sky Suite III, which is offered on some of the 777s and 787-9s, is their newest business class. The seats are arranged in a 1x2x1 configuration, and offer each passenger all aisle access.
Premium economy and Economy are also some of the best in the world. They offer shell seats in P/E, with foot rest and leg rests. Economy is also one of the widest out there, with nearly 20” of width, and 33” of pitch.
All the seats have Boeing’s Sky Interior, with mood lighting. The 787 has a lower cabin atmosphere, which means passengers feel more rested when they arrive at their destination. One of the coolest aspects of the 787 is the dimming windows. The aircraft lack shades, and instead have a dimming mechanism.
Landing Thoughts:
I think JAL and ANA are both finding their 787s to be very reliable. After an original spat of problems, it seems these airlines are very happy with the performance. I expect to see more airlines add 787 and A350 orders, given operating large aircraft is becoming less popular. Even the mighty A380 and 747 are doomed if no new orders are placed. Regardless, JAL will probably retire more of their 767s and replace them with these 787s. This translated to more comfort for passengers in all cabins.
What do you think? What do you make of the added orders for the 787? Will JAL retire more 767s or just add new routes? Let us know!
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H/T: Yahoo Finance
Images from JAL
Your comment on the 787 lacking window shades, no 787’s come with window shades. JAL 767’s are young compared to most airlines, they will be flying for years to come.