Japan Airlines, founded on August 1, 1951, initiated its operations on October 25, 1951. It stands as an international airline, serving as Japan's flag carrier and holding the distinction of being the largest airline in 2021 and 2022. The airline's headquarters is situated in Shinagawa, Tokyo.

The airline's primary hubs are located at Narita International Airport, Haneda Airport, Kansai International Airport in Osaka, and Itami Airport. The JAL Group encompasses various companies, including Japan Airlines, Japan Air Commuter, Japan Transocean Air, Ryukyu Air Commuter, J-Air for domestic feeder services, and JAL Cargo for mail and cargo operations.

The comprehensive operations of the JAL Group encompass both scheduled and non-scheduled international cargo services, serving 220 destinations across 35 countries globally. With a fleet comprising 279 aircraft, the airline group achieved significant milestones in the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2009, having transported over 52 million passengers and more than 1.1 million tons of cargo and mail.

Initially established as a government-owned entity in 1951, Japan Airlines assumed the role of Japan's national airline in 1953. After three decades of service and expansion, the airline underwent full privatization in 1987. In 2002, it merged with Japan Air System, becoming the sixth-largest airline in the world in terms of passengers carried. Currently, Japan Airlines serves as the official sponsor for entities such as the Japan Football Association, Japan Football Team, Consadole Sapporo, and Shimizu S-Pulse.

History

The airline's headquarters was initially situated in Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo. Between August 27 and 29, the airline operated inaugural flights using a Douglas DC-3 aircraft. On October 25, the country witnessed the inauguration of its first postwar domestic airline service, employing Martin 2-0-2 aircraft and a crew leased from Northwest Orient Airlines subsidiary TALOA.

The Japanese National Diet enacted legislation to establish Japan Airlines on August 1, 1953. This led to the formation of the new state-owned Japan Airlines on October 1, which assumed all the assets and liabilities of its private predecessor. By 1953, JAL's network expanded northward from Tokyo to include destinations like Sapporo and Misawa, and westward to cities including Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Osaka.

On February 2, 1954, Japan Airlines initiated its first international flights, carrying 18 passengers from Tokyo to San Francisco aboard a Douglas DC-6B aircraft. These flights between Tokyo and San Francisco continue to be known as flight 1 and 2, commemorating the airline's inaugural international service. In addition to the Douglas DC-3, Douglas DC-6B, and Martin 2-0-2s, JAL operated Douglas DC-4s and Douglas DC-7Cs during the 1950s. The airline also introduced flights to Hong Kong via Okinawa by 1955, while reducing its domestic network to Osaka, Tokyo, Sapporo, and Fukuoka.

Jet Era

In 1960, Japan Airlines received its first jet aircraft, a Douglas DC-8 named Fuji, introducing jet service on the Tokyo-Honolulu-San Francisco route.

The airline eventually operated a fleet of 51 DC-8s before retiring the last of these aircraft in 1987. Fuji remained in service until 1974, after which it was utilized as a maintenance training platform until 1989.

JAL expanded its international reach by adding destinations such as Seattle and Hong Kong in 1960. During the 1960s, the airline introduced flights to several new cities, including New York, Busan, and Moscow. In the 1980s, Japan Airlines conducted special flights for Crown Prince Akihito, Crown Princess Michiko, and Japanese prime ministers.

Deregulated Era

The Japanese government began contemplating airline deregulation in the late 1970s. In 1985, it announced the abandonment of the 45/47 system. Japan Airlines underwent full privatization in 1987, while the other two major Japanese airlines, Japan Air System and All Nippon Airways, gained permission to compete with JAL on both domestic and international routes. This increased competition prompted a corporate restructuring within the airline, leading to the establishment of three divisions: domestic passenger service, cargo service, and international passenger service.