Japan Airlines fleet, cabin, seats, IFE, baggage, safety and punctuality

Airline info

Address: 4-11, Higashi Shinagawa, 2-Chrome, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 140-8605, Japan
Contact number: +81 3 5460 3109, +81 3 6733 3062
Website: www.jal.com
IATA code/ICAO code: JL / JAL

On-time performance and safety record

On time performance (2022): 84.3%
Average age of fleet (2023): 10.7 years
Major accidents in last 10 years: 0
Accidents with fatalities: 0
Airlineratings** safety rating: 7/7
Covid-19 safety*** rating: 7/7

** AIRLINERATINGS SAFETY RATING is based on a comprehensive analysis of crash and pilot related serious incident data combined with audits from the world’s aviation governing body ICAO and leading association, IATA, along with the latest COVID-19 compliance data. Each airline has the potential to earn a maximum of seven stars. See also www.airlineratings.com

*** COVID-19 SAFETY RATING takes into consideration seven factors for each airline: COVID-19 website information and instructions, social distancing on boarding, Flight Attendant personal protection equipment, face masks compulsory, meal service modified, passenger sanitizer kit, deep clean of aircraft. Each airline has the potential to earn a maximum of seven stars. See also www.airlineratings.com

Japan Airlines is one out of ten airlines in the world to boast the prestigious 5-STAR evaluation by Skytrax. The Japanese carrier ranks high in all its four classes of service, but it excels in Economy Class, which has been rated the world’s best in 2019 by Skytrax. That’s, also, because of the generous space allowed onboard its long-haul aircraft: JAL has put a 9-seat-cross section (instead of ten) on all its B777s and 8 (instead of nine) on its B787s. The seat pitch and seat width are huge, too, if compared to those of other airlines. The same happens, on long-haul-dedicated aircraft, in Premium Economy, where the seat pitch is 42 inches (instead of 36-38) and seat width 19 inches. In Business Class, as many as 7 different types of seats are featured, depending on the aircraft and routes served (domestic, international, long-haul). In point of operations and fleet, the airline had to request bankruptcy protection and cut its network and fleet alienating all of the 34 B747-400s it operated following the 2008 global financial crisis. Today, its long-haul fleet is based on the B787s, which allowed the start of thin, long range routes to North America, but the European network is still rather poor (Photo Wikimedia Commons / Masahiro Takagi)

Name: Japan Airlines
Date founded: August 1, 1951 – commenced operations October 25, 1951
IATA code/ICAO code: JL / JAL
CEO: Yuji Akasaka
Address: 4-11, Higashi Shinagawa, 2-Chrome, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 140-8605, Japan
Contact number: +81 3 5460 3109, +81 3 6733 3062
Website: www.jal.com
Hub: Tokyo (HND & NRT)
Focus cities: Osaka (KIX and ITM), Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo
Airline alliance: Oneworld
Frequent flyer programme: Jal Mileage Bank, Jal Global Club
Fleet:
169 aircraft
- 17 Boeing 777-300 and -300ER / 224-500 seats (8 First, 40 Business, 40 Premium Economy, 147 Economy or 78 Business, 422 Economy)
- 18 Boeing 777-200 and -200ER / 236-357 seats (42 Business, 40 Premium Economy, 154 Economy or 14 First, 82 Business, 279 Economy)
- 8 Airbus A350-900 / 369 seats (12 First, 94 Business, 263 Economy)
- 20 Boeing 787-9 / 195-203-237 seats (44 Business, 35 Premium Economy, 116 Economy or 52 Business, 35 Premium Economy, 116 Economy or 28 Business, 21 Premium Economy, 188 Economy)
- 27 Boeing 787-8 / 161-206-291 seats (30 Business, 176 Economy or 38 Business, 35 Premium Economy, 88 Economy or 6 First, 58 Business, 227 Economy)
- 31 Boeing 767-300 and -300ER / 199-227-252-261 (30 Business, 169 Economy or 30 Business, 197 Economy or 5 First, 42 Business, 205 Economy or 42 Business, 219 Economy)
- 48 Boeing 737-800 / 144-165 seats (12 Business, 132 Economy or 20 Business, 145 Economy)
Type of carrier: Full-service
Skytrax* rating: 5-STAR

* SKYTRAX (www.skytraxratings.com) is the most prestigious independent rating agency in commercial aviation. Its five stars rating system regarding airline quality has become a status symbol for carriers around the world. Here is what the stars stand for:

- 5 STARS: Awarded to airlines achieving a very high, overall quality performance. It recognizes high standards of onboard product together with consistent and excellent standards of staff service across airport and cabin environments
- 4 STARS: Awarded to airlines that deliver a good overall quality performance and provide good product standards across different travel cabins
- 3 STARS: Awarded to airlines delivering a fair quality performance equating to the industry 'average' of acceptable product and service standards
- 2 STARS: Shows airlines delivering a lower total quality performance, in some instances below the industry average across many rating categories
- 1 STAR: Represents a poor quality of product delivered across the assessment sectors

Checked luggage:
On domestic flights, checked baggage allowance is 45kg in First, 20kg in Business and Economy; on international flights, free baggage allowance is as follows: 3 bags for a total weight of 96kg in First and Business, 2 bags for a total weight of 46kg in Premium Economy and Economy
Pre-selection of seat:
Free for First, Business and Premium Economy passengers
Priority check-in:
First, Business and Premium Economy passengers plus Jal Mileage Bank Crystal, Sapphire, Premier and Diamond members
Fast track at security:
No info available
Access to lounge:
First, Business and Premium Economy passengers plus Jal Mileage Bank Sapphire, Premier and Diamond members
Priority boarding:
First, Business and Premium Economy passengers plus Jal Mileage Bank Crystal, Sapphire, Premier and Diamond members

Seat pitch:
- 78 inches (198cm) in First, 74 inches (188cm) in Business, 42 inches (106cm) in Premium Economy, 34 inches (86cm) in Economy or 38 inches (96cm) in Business, 31 inches (79cm) in Economy on the B777-300 and -300ER;
- 77 inches (195cm) in Business, 42 inches (106cm) in Premium Economy, 33 inches (84cm) in Economy or 60 inches (152cm) in Business, 38 inches (96cm) in Premium Economy, 31 inches (79cm) in Economy or 51 inches (130cm) in First, 38 inches (96cm) in Business, 31 inches (79cm) in Economy or 60 inches (152cm) in Business, 31 inches (79cm) in Economy or 47 inches (120cm) in Business, 31 inches (79cm) in Economy on the B777-200 and -200ER;
- 53 inches (134cm) in First, 38 inches (96cm) in Business, 31 inches (79cm) in Economy on the A350-900;
- 78 inches (198cm) in Business, 42 inches (106cm) in Premium Economy, 33 inches (84cm) in Economy or 74 inches (188cm) in Business, 42 inches (106cm) in Premium Economy, 33 inches (84cm) in Economy on the B787-9;
- 74 inches (188cm) in Business, 42 inches (106cm) in Premium Economy, 33 inches (84cm) in Economy or 74 inches (188cm) in Business, 33 inches (84cm) in Economy or 60 inches (152cm) in Business, 31 inches (79cm) in Economy on the B787-8;
- 74 inches (188cm) in Business, 34 inches (86cm) in Economy or 47 inches (120cm) in Business, 34 inches (86cm) in Economy or 38 inches (96cm) in Business, 31 inches (79cm) in Economy or 51 inches (130cm) in First, 38 inches (96cm) in Business, 31 inches (79cm) in Economy on the B767-300 and -300ER;
- 47 inches (120cm) in Business, 34 inches (86cm) in Economy or 38 inches (96cm) in Business, 31 inches (79cm) in Economy on the B737-800
Seat width:
- 33 inches (84cm) in First, 25.5 inches (65cm) in Business, 19 inches (48cm) in Premium Economy and Economy or 18.5 inches (47cm) in Business, 17 inches (43cm) in Economy on the B777-300 and -300ER;
- 21 inches (53cm) in First, 18.5 inches (47cm) in Business, 17 inches (43cm) in Economy or 22 inches (56cm) in Business, 18 inches (46cm) in Premium Economy, 17 inches (43cm) in Economy or 20 inches (51cm) in Business, 19 inches (48cm) in Premium Economy and Economy or 20 inches (51cm) in Business, 17.5 inches (44.5cm) in Economy on the B777-200 and -200ER;
- 20 inches (51cm) in First, 19 inches (48cm) in Business, 17 inches (43cm) in Economy on the A350-900;
- 25.5 inches (65cm) in Business, 19 inches (48cm) in Premium Economy and Economy or 20 inches (51cm) in Business, 19 inches (48cm) in Premium Economy, 18 inches (46cm) in Economy on the B787-9;
- 25 inches (63.5cm) in Business, 19 inches (48cm) in Premium Economy and Economy or 22 inches (56cm) in Business, 17.5 inches (44.5cm) in Economy or 25.5 inches (65cm) in Business, 18 inches (46cm) in Economy on the B787-8;
- 25.5 inches (65cm) in Business, 19 inches (48cm) in Economy or 20 inches (51cm) in Business, 18.5 inches (47cm) in Economy or 18.5 inches (47cm) in Business, 17 inches (43cm) in Economy or 21 inches (53cm) in First, 18.5 inches (47cm) in Premium Economy, 17 inches (43cm) in Economy on the B767-300 and -300ER;
- 20 inches (51cm) in Business, 18.5 inches (47cm) in Economy or 18.5 inches (47cm) in Business, 17 inches (43cm) in Economy on the B737-800

USB port and power socket:
USB ports available at every seat in every class, power ports available at every seat in First, Business and Premium Economy, and every third seat on the B777-300ER; power sockets available at every seat in Business and Premium Economy on the B777-200 and -200ER; USB ports and power sockets available at every seat in every class on the A350-900, B787-9 and B787-8; power sockets available at every seat in Business on the B767-300 and -300ER and on the B737-800
Lie-flat seat:
In First and Business on the B777-300ER; in Business on the B787-9 and on selected B787-8, selected B777-200ER and selected B767-300ER; angle flat seats are available in Business on selected B777-200ER and selected B787-8
Vanity kit:
In First, Business and Premium Economy on long range flights; eye masks and era plugs are distributed in Economy on long-haul flights to Europe and North America
IFE screen width:
23 inches (58.5cm) in First on the B777-300ER; in Business screen width varies from 10.4 inches (26.5cm) to 23 inches (58.5cm) depending on the type of aircraft and seat; 12.1 inches (31cm) in Premium Economy, 10.6 inches (27cm) in Economy on B777-300ER, B777-200ER, B787-9, B787-8, B767-300
Wi-fi:
Available on all aircraft on all flights in all classes; on domestic flights, wi-fi connection is free in all classes; on international flights, it is free for First Class passengers while for all others, 1-hour connection time costs 10.15USD, 3 hours 14.40USD, 24 hours 18.80USD
Inflight magazine:
Skyward and JalShop
Onboard kit for kids:
Yes
Food and beverages:
On domestic flights, complimentary meals are served in First Class, while Business and Economy passengers enjoy free beverages; on international flights, complimentary meals, including alcoholics, are served in all classes
Upgraded meals in Premium Economy: Yes
Dine on demand in Business Class: No
Pets:
Pets are not accepted in the passenger cabin and can travel in the cargo hold only, as checked baggage