On November 12, 2023, Japan Airlines operated its last scheduled Boeing 777-200ER flights. With that, the airline no longer operates the shorter variant of the type. That said, for the time being, it continues to operate the longer 777-300ER on international (and to an extent domestic) flights.
JAL 777-200ERs Last Day of Scheduled Operations
On the last day of its operation – and for a few months before that – JAL had one last 777-200ER left in its fleet. The aircraft registered JA703J was delivered to the airline in February 2003 and was the third 777-200ER to join its fleet (the airline operated non-ER “-200s” before that).
While for a good portion of its time with JAL it was used on international flights, for the last couple of years it was used on high-demand domestic routes. On its last day, November 12, 2023, it operated the following four flights (scheduled departure and arrival times listed):
- JL505 / Tokyo Haneda – Sapporo New Chitose / 8:15AM – 9:50AM
- JL506 / Sapporo New Chitose – Tokyo Haneda / 10:45AM – 12:25PM
- JL917 / Tokyo Haneda – Naha / 2:15PM – 5:00PM
- JL916 / Naha – Tokyo Haneda / 6:00PM – 8:15PM
The last flight landed on Tokyo Haneda’s runway 34L at 8:09PM and reached Terminal 1’s parking spot 11 a couple of minutes ahead of schedule, at 8:13PM.
This meant not only the end of the 777-200ER era at JAL. It also meant the end of but also the end of JAL’s reverse herringbone seats in Class J (domestic business class). In addition to 26 of those in a 1-2-1 layout, the aircraft was also equipped with 286 economy class seats in a relatively rare 3-4-2 layout for a total of 312 seats.
That said, JA703J is expected to carry passengers one last time. Like with the previous 777-200ER that JAL retired, the airline will operate a special tour for aviation enthusiasts on December 12, 2023, that will include a charter flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles on the aircraft.
From there, JA703J will be ferried into storage while the tour’s participants will be able to enjoy aviation-related sightseeing on the tour before heading back to Tokyo on one of JAL’s scheduled flights.
From Dozens of Triple Sevens to the Last Thirteen
JAL received its first 777-200ER, JA701J, in July 2002. The aircraft then made its scheduled flight debut on August 1, 2002, flying from Tokyo Narita to Beijing Capital. The first 777-200ER wasn’t the first Boeing 777 in the airline’s fleet fleet, though.
Over the last nearly three decades, JAL operated dozens of airframes of all passenger 777 variants. While most of those were delivered to the airline brand new, there were also some airframes that the airline added to its fleet as a result of its merger with Japan Air System.
The first Triple Seven, a 777-200 (non-ER) registered JA8981, entered JAL’s fleet in February 1996. The first 777-300 (non-ER), registered JA8941, followed in July 1998. Then, as mentioned earlier, the 777-200ER followed in July 2002, and finally, in June 2004, the first 777-300ER, registered JA731J, joined JAL’s fleet.
From the delivery of the first 777-300ER in 2004 until the end of March 2021 when JAL retired its remaining non-ER 777-200s and 777-300s, the airline was operating all four variants of the 777 simultaneously, using them on both domestic and international flights.
Today, JAL is only left with the 777-300ER. It still operates all 13 airframes of the type that it received from Boeing between the first one in 2004 and the last one in 2009.
A New Flagship Is Coming
Being the only aircraft in JAL’s fleet with international first class, the 777-300ER is currently the airline’s flagship. While it is used on some domestic flights, it primarily operates long-haul routes, connecting Tokyo Haneda Airport with major destinations like London, Paris, New York, and Dallas.
JAL’s 777-300ERs seat a total of 244 passengers across four classes. In addition to 8 first class seats in a 1-2-1 layout, they are also equipped with 49 Apex suite business class seats (2-3-2), 40 premium economy class seats (2-4-2), and 147 economy class seats in the now rare, spacious 3-3-3 layout (as opposed to the more standard 3-4-3).
In an exciting development for JAL, the airline’s flagship will be changing soon. The airline has 13 Airbus A350-1000s on order, replacing the 777-300ERs one-to-one.
The first A350-1000 is expected to join the airline’s fleet later this year. The aircraft will feature all-new interiors and will initially be deployed on JAL’s flagship route between Tokyo Haneda and New York JFK. The (at least for the time being) last A350-1000 is expected to be delivered to JAL by 2028.
At 239 seats, the A350-1000 will seat just five fewer passengers than the 777-300ER. Like the Triple Seven, the A350-1000 will be equipped with four classes as follows:
- 6 first class seats (-2 vs. the 777-300ER)
- 54 business class seats (+5)
- 24 premium economy class seats (-16)
- 155 economy class seats (+8)
Summary
After more than 20 years of operations, JAL retired its last 777-200ER (JA703J) out of scheduled passenger service on November 12, 2023. With that, the airline that once operated all four variants of the 777 is only left with 13 Boeing 777-300ERs that it primarily uses on international flights.
Even those, however, have their days numbered as JAL will receive its first A350-1000 soon and over the next five or so years will receive 12 more, replacing the 777-300ER on a one-on-one basis.
