After 3-month delay, Japan Airlines unveils flights on new flagship jet

It’s official: Japan Airlines’ new flagship aircraft will take to the skies just a few weeks after the new year.

The Tokyo-based carrier announced on Sunday that it would deploy its first Airbus A350-1000 on its route to New York beginning on Jan. 24, 2024, representing a roughly three-month delay from the initial plans.

The A350 will begin flying between Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Japan Airlines’ flight numbers 5 and 6 on even-numbered days in January with the following schedule.

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• Japan Airlines Flight 6 — Departs Tokyo at 11:05 a.m., arrives in New York at 10 a.m.
• Japan Airlines Flight 5 — Departs New York at 12:40 p.m., arrives in Tokyo at 5:15 p.m. (next day)

In February, the A350 will operate to New York on the same flight numbers on odd-numbered days, followed in March by even-numbered days. The carrier is scheduled to receive its second A350 by March 31, 2024. When it does, JAL will upgrade Flights 5 and 6 to daily service onboard the A350.

For more details about JAL’s A350s, check out TPG’s first look at the stunning new interiors

Japan Airlines also shared the second route that will receive A350 service: HND to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). The airline didn’t commit to a timeline for when DFW will see the A350, sharing that it would happen once the carrier takes delivery of its third A350.

Japan Airlines has 13 A350-1000 jets on order, which are all slated to replace its fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs. The first A350 was scheduled to be inaugurated last month, but the delivery was postponed due to “supply chain issues.”

The carrier didn’t elaborate on the reason for the delay, but aviation observers will no doubt be excited by the news of the inaugural A350 flight schedule.

JAL’s A350 not only becomes the carrier’s new flagship aircraft, but it also sports all-new industry-leading cabins from nose to tail.

This includes a redesigned first class with more space than ever before, private business-class suites with sliding doors, a generous new premium economy recliner with what appears to be a very comfortable legrest and redesigned economy seats with a few upgrades.

Every seat features 4K personal TVs with access to Bluetooth audio to pair AirPods and other wireless headphones. Other standout features include new built-in speakers in the business- and first- class seats and first-class seats that recline into double beds.

While we’ll reserve judgment until we get to try the new aircraft, it appears that these cabins might just be some of the best in the sky.

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