Tuesday, June 17, 2014

JAL Sky Next to serve Itami, Hakodate, and Sapporo next.

Japan Airlines (JL/JAL), which introduced their refurbished 'JAL Sky Next' domestic aircraft on May 28th (JAL's first Sky Next 777 enters service.) on the Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) – Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) route, will be expanding the service to Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO) and Hakodate (HKD/RJCH) in July, and to Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC) in August.
Boeing 777-246 JA8985 Samurai Blue Jet supports Japan's national football (soccer) team, which is currently participating in 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Boasting all-new leather seats, new carpets, Dreamliner-style LED mood lighting, and in-flight Wi-Fi (available from July), Boeing 777-289 JA007D became the first to receive the revamp. Seat pitch remains the same at 38 inches (96.5 centimeters) for Class J and 31 inches (78.7 centimeters) for economy, however, slim-style seats increased legroom by five centimeters in economy.

By mid-2016, JAL plans to have 77 aircraft with the refurbished interiors in service, comprising seven 777-300s, nine 777-200s, 20 767-300/300ERs, and 41 737-800s. Work on their 777-300s will begin in August, 767s from September, and 737-800s from October. JAL targets 34 aircraft to have completed the revamp by the end of fiscal year 2014.
Boeing 777-246 JA8981 stopped by Honolulu for refueling and crew immigrations. She is seen here leaving for her final flight to Goodyear, where she will be scrapped. (Photo: JAL)

Meanwhile, the first Triple-Seven to be retired from JAL, 777-246 JA8981 (JAL retires first Boeing 777.), was ferried via Honolulu (HNL/PHNL) to Goodyear (GYR/KGYR) in Arizona, U.S.A. on June 13th as flight JL8131. It will be dismantled for spare parts. Another five older 777-200s will be retired by March 2016, while others will receive the 'Sky Next' upgrade.

Reference: Aviation Wire, June 17th. (in Japanese)
Reference: Japan Airlines @ Facebook (in Japanese)

*Post edited/updated on June 20th.

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