JAL planned to expand the use of Airbus A350-1000 aircraft to all its flights between Tokyo Haneda and New York JFK from July 26, 2024, and between Haneda and Dallas from August 15, 2024. The airline postponed doing so to August 14 and 29, 2024, respectively.
While the airline did not disclose the reason behind doing so, delays in the deliveries of its fourth and fifth A350-1000 are presumably the reason.
The airline currently operates three airframes which it uses daily on flights JL6 and JL5 between Tokyo Haneda and New York JFK, as well as on its other rotation between the two cities, JL4/JL3, on select days.
The latter is now expected to receive daily A350-1000 service from August 14, 2024.
In April 2024, Dallas Forth Worth became the second destination to be served by the A350-1000. JAL deployed its new flagship on the route every other day. However, for the time being, the type has been pulled from the route in favor of deploying the A350-1000 on extra New York flights.
The A350-1000 is expected to return to Dallas from August 19, 2024. It will operate the route every other day until August 28, 2024, and daily from August 29, 2024.
JAL A350-1000s are equipped with brand new seats in all classes and can sit 239 passengers including six in first, 54 in business, 24 in premium economy, and 155 in economy class.
By the end of this fiscal year (March 31, 2025), JAL expects to receive five more A350-1000s on top of the three it already has for a total of eight. That will enable the airline to switch its Tokyo Haneda – London Heathrow flights to the type too. The airline is set to fully replace its former flagship 777-300ER fleet with A350-1000s before the end of 2026.
