Eagle-eyed aircraft followers have noticed retired Japan Airlines Boeing 777-300ER
aircraft being re-registered under US registrations in New Mexico. This led to speculation that Chicago-based United Airlines
may be considering welcoming them into their fleet.

Japan’s loss could be United’s gain

Japan Airlines, the flag carrier of Japan, has started to retire a number of its aging Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, being strategically replaced by the ultra-modern Airbus A350-1000
. The airline, which recently retired aircraft registered under JA734J, was in operation for almost 20 years, accumulating over 81,000 flight hours.

JA734J - Japan Airlines - JAL, a Boeing 777

Photo: Benthemouse | Shutterstock

After its last commercial flight from Sydney to Tokyo in August, the airline was retired to Rosewell, New Mexico. More recently, the aircraft was re-registered under United States registration N3243P and had its JAL livery removed.

A constrained widebody fleet

If the rumors were true, United Airlines could adopt the retired JAL aircraft, which remained under intense maintenance cycles while under Japanese ownership. United currently struggles with a constrained widebody network accumulated by Boeing 787
deliveries. If United were to commence operation with these aircraft, it could assist in upgrading its current transatlantic and trans-Pacific networks.

Japan Airlines has 13 of the widebody aircraft either retired already or on their way out. While it would be unlikely that if the aircraft is destined for United Airlines, the Star Alliance
carrier would retain JAL’s interior (a Oneworld member). JAL has an impressive first-class and business-class product. If it is not retained, the aircraft will require significant investment before commencing operations under the United banner.

JA734J - Japan Airlines - JAL, a Boeing 777

Photo: Suparat Chairatprasert | Shutterstock

JAL commenced operation with the 777-300ER in the early 2000s. However, since the introduction of the Airbus A350-1000, the airline has slowly retired the Boeing variant from its fleet, with the final 77W expected to depart the carrier by 2026. The recent retirement of JA734J was celebrated at Tokyo Haneda Airport
(HND), with ground staff lining up on the apron to pay tribute to the loyal workhorse.

Transition to the A350-1000

Japan Airlines’ transition to the A350 reflects the carrier’s ambitions to enhance fuel efficiency and passenger comfort. JAL welcomed the first A350 in December and has quickly deployed it on some of its flagship routes (like to New York JFK Airport
). The new aircraft are fitted with the latest cabin interiors and first-class suites.

11 of the 77W remain in operation with JAL and have an average age of around 17.2 years. Throughout the variants’ tenure with the Asian carrier, 46 have been in operation in the airline’s network, including the -200 and -300 models.

While we can only speculate, many individuals on Airliners.net have taken to their keyboards to imagine where these aircraft could be deployed, including LAXPolaris, which commented:

“I’d assume we’d see them on more IAD routes, and probably see it flying in EWR again too?”

Even fun2fly reminded readers that the aircraft still has plenty of life left, and adding 13 second-hand 77W would most certainly help boost United’s capacity:

“13 x 77W’s is a nice size fleet add on the used market, probably get another decade plus out of them and retire the entire batch of 77W’s (used & existing) at the same time and replace the entire lot with those 35K’s.”

Time will only tell if these rumors are true, but it still raises the question, if these aircraft do begin operating for United, which routes do you expect them to be flying?

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