Honolulu Will See Japan Airlines’ Temporarily Operate Boeing 777-300ER Flights To & From Tokyo

Japan Airlines

(JAL) is set to upscale its services between Tokyo and Hawaii after the carrier announced it will adjust services over the 2024 and 2025 holiday periods to be operated with the carrier’s

Boeing 777-300ER

, replacing the current

Boeing 787-9

. The Japan—Hawaii market is fierce, and Hawaii is a popular destination for many Japanese tourists. JAL competes directly with All Nippon Airways, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, and Zip Air between the two countries.

With a fleet of over 279 aircraft, JAL is a leading member of the Oneworld Alliance network. Between its cargo and passenger divisions, the airline serves more than 220 destinations worldwide in 325 countries. On average, the airline transports over 52 million passengers a year.

Source: GCMap

While this announcement directly affects JAL’s Tokyo Haneda to

Honolulu International Airport

route, it is worth noting that the Japanese carrier also serves Honolulu from its hubs at Nagoya–Centrair, Osaka–Kansai, and Tokyo–Narita.

First class on offer to Hawaii

Ironically, the change in aircraft from the Boeing 787-9 to the 777-300ER will add just five extra seats overall; however, it will enable the airline to increase its premium capacity on the route with first class introduction and a larger business class cabin. Comparison on capacity as below:

Boeing 787-9

Japan Airlines has 23 of the Boeing 787-9 in the fleet, with four equipped for domestic configuration only; however, on international services, it deploys its three-class configuration, which includes Business Class (JAL Sky Suite), Premium Economy (JAL SKY Premium), and Economy class (JAL Sky Wider), and provides passengers with:

• Business: 28 seats (between rows 1 to 7)
• Premium economy: 21 seats (between rows 17 to 19)
• Economy class: 190 seats (between rows 23 to 59)

Boeing 777-300ER

With 12 Boeing 777-300ER serving Japan Airlines, the variant will eventually be replaced by the newer Airbus A350-1000. However, while these remain in service, they are configured in a four-class configuration, made up of First Class (JAL Suite), Business Class (JAL Sky Suite), Premium Economy (JAL SKY Premium), and Economy Class (JAL Sky Wider). As below:

• First: Eight seats (between rows 1 and 2)
• Business: 49 seats (between rows 5 and 12)
• Premium: 40 seats (between rows 17 and 21)
• Economy: 147 seats (between rows 23 and 57)

First class is now available on the route

With JAL introducing the larger Boeing 777-300ER between Tokyo and Japan, the airline introduced the First Class JAL Suite. This will serve eight dedicated passengers in the airline’s highest booking class, between rows 1 and 2. Benefits include a specially designed first-class pod with lie-flat seats, personal 23-inch TV screens, retractable privacy partitions, and ample storage.

Those traveling between

Tokyo Haneda Airport

(HND) and Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) will see the larger aircraft in operation on these dates:

Photo: Yuan Mulyadi | Shutterstock

The airline operates the route between Tokyo Haneda and Honolulu twice daily, to the below schedule:

Tokyo to Honolulu

• JL074, departing Tokyo Haneda at 21:00, arriving in Honolulu at 08:45, the same day (crossing the international date line)
• JL072, departing Tokyo Haneda at 21:55, arriving in Honolulu at 09:40, the same day (as above)

Honolulu to Tokyo

• JL073, departing Honolulu at 11:30, arriving in Tokyo Haneda at 15:55 the next day
• JL071, departing Honolulu at 15:45, arriving in Toyko Haneda at 20:10 the next day

Given Japan Airlines’ extensive operation between Japan and Honolulu, premium passengers are granted access to the airline’s lounges on both sides of the ocean. Business and passengers with eligible status can gain access to the airline’s Sakura Lounge at both Haneda and Honolulu while departing first class passengers from Japan can enter the airline’s first class lounge in Haneda.

Departing passengers in Honolulu are treated to the recently reopened Sakura Lounge, renovated this year and opened for passengers on August 22. The airline is located near gate C1 on the third floor and opens three hours before any departing JAL scheduled flight. The lounge will, however, close 30 minutes before the final departing flight. Passengers can enjoy a range of hot meals, snacks, alcohol, and free Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, as many of those familiar with Japanese beer, there is no draft beer service available.

Five airlines operating the Japan-Hawaii market

As already noted, the Japan – Hawaii market is fierce, and there is plenty of competition on the route. All Nippon deploys its Airbus A380 on the route between Tokyo and Honolulu, emphasizing the popularity of the island destination for Japanese travelers. Between Japan and Hawaii, the following airlines operate the following routes:

As identified, four of the five carriers serving the route between Japan and Hawaii are full-service carriers. Japan Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines offer the widest range of routes to Honolulu.

ZIPAIR Tokyo

, which offers just one route to Hawaii, is the only low-cost alternative available for price-conscious passengers.