JAL A350-1000 to Debut on New York Route in January 2024, Dallas Next in Line

While JAL originally planned to put its new international flagship – the Airbus A350-1000 – into service before the end of 2023, those plans have changed due to a delay in the first aircraft’s delivery.

The airline has now announced a revised timeline for the entry into service of the aircraft on its first route, Tokyo Haneda – New York JFK. It also announced the aircraft’s planned second destination – Dallas Ft. Worth.

JAL Has 13 Airbus A350-1000 with All-New Cabins on Order

Currently, Boeing 777-300ERs serve as JAL’s international flagship. The airline operates 13 of the aircraft in total and they are the only aircraft in JAL’s fleet with international first class. With an average age of almost 17 years, while the aircraft still have a few years of service left in them, are past their prime.

With that in mind, as part of its fleet renewal plan, JAL has 13 Airbus A350-1000s on order. Over the next few years, these aircraft will replace JAL’s 777-300ERs one-to-one and become the new flagship.

While JAL’s 777-300ERs are equipped with 244 seats in four classes (8 in first, 49 in business, 40 in premium economy, and 147 in economy), its A350-1000s will feature five fewer seats for a total of 239 across four classes (6 in first, 54 in business, 24 in premium economy, and 155 in economy).

The A350-1000s will also feature all-new seats with the most visible changes being made in first and business class.

In both of these classes, JAL will offer suites with doors, finally catching up with ANA which offers the excellent The Room business class on some of its flagship 777-300ER now. Arguably the most interesting feature of these new seats will be built-in headrest speakers removing the need to use headphones. I am really curious to see how well these will work (or not work).

JAL already operates a fleet of A350-900s on domestic flights.

JAL A350-1000 Will Enter into Service in January 2024

At this point, JAL plans to introduce the A350-1000 into service on January 24, 2024, on one of its two daily rotations between Tokyo Haneda and New York JFK. The aircraft will operate the following flights (the times will vary slightly depending on the season, etc.):

• JL6 / Tokyo Haneda – New York JFK / 11:05AM – 10:00AM
• JL5 / New York JFK – Tokyo Haneda / 12:40PM – 5:15PM+1

In the beginning, the A350-1000 will operate the route every other day. Once JAL receives its second A350-1000, the aircraft will be deployed on the route daily. The non-A350-1000 JL6/JL5 flights, as well as the other daily rotation (JL4/JL3) will continue to be operated by the 777-300ER.

Once JAL receives its third aircraft, it will start deploying the A350-1000 on another route to the United States, between Tokyo Haneda and Dallas Ft. Worth. The route is currently operated by the 777-300ER.

The exact date when JAL will start deploying the A350-1000 on the Dallas route is not clear yet. That said, similar to New York, given the route’s duration, it will have to start with operating the route using the A350-1000 every other day and then ramp it up to daily once it receives the fourth airframe.

Summary

After delays with receiving the first aircraft, it seems like JAL is finally set to debut its new flagship – the A350-1000 – on its flagship route between Tokyo Haneda and New York JFK from January 24, 2024.

Until the airline receives its second A350-1000, the new aircraft will operate between the two cities every other day. With the second airframe in its fleet, JAL will be able to ramp it up to daily. Then, the third and fourth airframes will allow JAL to also switch the Tokyo Haneda – Dallas route to the new A350-1000.

It will be interesting to see in which order JAL chooses the routes to switch to the A350-1000 from the fifth airframe onward.