JAL Express
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| Founded | 1 April 1997 (as JEX) | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | 1 July 1998 | ||||||
| Ceased operations | 30 September 2014 (merged with Japan Airlines) | ||||||
| Hubs | Haneda Airport | ||||||
| Focus cities | Chūbu Centrair International Airport | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | JAL Mileage Bank | ||||||
| Alliance | Oneworld | ||||||
| Fleet size | 42 | ||||||
| Destinations | 24 | ||||||
| Parent company | Japan Airlines | ||||||
| Headquarters |
Tokyo International Airport Ota-ku, Tokyo, Japan | ||||||
| Key people | Shigemi Kurusu (President) | ||||||
| Website |
www | ||||||
JAL Express Co., Ltd. (JEX) (株式会社ジャル エクスプレス Kabushiki-gaisha Jaru Ekusupuresu), was an airline with its headquarters at Tokyo International Airport and in Ota-ku, Tokyo, Japan, and its main hub at Tokyo International Airport. The airline also maintained offices in the Japan Airlines Building in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Its operations included scheduled and non-scheduled passenger services to eight regional destinations across Japan. In addition, the airline operated additional 15 destinations in Japan and two destinations in the People's Republic of China on behalf of Japan Airlines, under a wet-lease agreement.
JAL Express was a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan's flag carrier, Japan Airlines and an affiliate member of the Oneworld alliance. The airline was founded on April 1, 1997, and began operations with a Boeing 737-400 on July 1, 1998. It celebrated its tenth anniversary of establishment and first flight in April 2007 and July 2008, respectively. The airline operated its first international flight in May 2009 and now flies to Hangzhou and Shanghai. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999, JAL Express, together with its sister airlines within the JAL Group, carried over 32 million passengers and over 1.1 million tons of cargo and mail.
The carrier ended operations on 30 September 2014 after being fully integrated with Japan Airlines.
History
JAL Express (JEX) was established on April 1, 1997, as a wholly owned domestic subsidiary airline of Japan Airlines (JAL), with an initial capital of ¥5.8 million. The airline operates scheduled passenger services to regional domestic destinations in Japan, as well as some low-demand flights for JAL under wet-lease agreement. It was anticipated that the airline may enter services on the domestic trunk and short-haul international routes. On July 1, 1998, JAL Express commenced operations from Osaka to Miyazaki and Kagoshima with two Boeing 737-400s, non-Japanese cockpit crew, and short-term contracted cabin attendants.[1][2][3] The airline's cabin attendants are called Sky Cast, their duties include cleaning the 150-seat cabin between flights.[4]
The airline celebrated its one millionth passenger in June 2000 and commenced wet-lease operation for its parent JAL in December 2000. On 14 November 2002, JAL introduced a new aircraft livery design - "The Arc of the Sun" - across all JAL Group fleet. A reception to celebrate the completion of the first painted aircraft with the JAL Group new design was held at the JAS M2 hangar. In April 2005, McDonnell Douglas MD-81 was introduced to the airline fleet, the aircraft has an all Economy Class configuration with 163 seats. JAL Express became an affiliate member of Oneworld on April 1, 2007, together with four of its sister airlines, in the alliance's biggest expansion in its young history.[5] On the same day, the airline celebrated its tenth anniversary of establishment.[2][6]
JAL Express welcomed the arrival of the new Boeing 737-800 to its fleet in January 2008 and celebrated the tenth anniversary of its first flight in July 2008. The airline operated its first international flight in May 2009 under a wet-lease agreement with JAL. It now flies to Hangzhou and Shanghai from Osaka (Kansai); and Hangzhou from Tokyo (Narita).[2]
JAL Express pilot Ari Fuji became on July 9, 2010, the first female airline flight captain.[7][8]
Since March 27, 2011, all of JAL Express flights were operated as JAL flights, with full merger of the two carriers by September 2014.
Destinations
JAL Express operated to the following destinations (as of September 2014):[9]
Fleet
As of September 2013, JAL Express operates 42 narrow-body aircraft, with either two classes of service (class J and Economy class) or single class of service (Economy Class). The average fleet age is 3.8 years[10][11]
| Aircraft | In Service | Passengers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Y | Total | ||
| Boeing 737-800 | 42 | 20 | 145 | 165 |
Services
In-flight catering
Cold beverages (including Hajime Saori cooled-green tea, JAL Original citrus drink Sky Time and apple juice), hot beverages (including tea, green tea, coffee and consommé soup), JAL Original candy, and sugar candy are available on board. Passengers traveling in class J could enjoy JAL class J in-flight catering services.[12][13] Since March 27, 2011,Passengers traveling in all classes can enjoy in-flight catering services on all of flights.
In-flight entertainment
JAL Group's in-flight magazine Skyward, JAL Express in-flight magazine JEX Letter and in-flight shopping magazine JALSHOP are available on board. There was no newspaper or audio and video programs available on JEX flights. Passengers traveling in class J could enjoy JAL class J in-flight entertainment services, where available.[12][14] Since March 27, 2011,Passengers traveling in all classes can enjoy in-flight entertainment services on all of flights.
JAL Mileage Bank
JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) is the travel rewards program of JAL Group, including Japan Airlines, JALways, JAL Express, Japan Transocean Air, Japan Air Commuter, Hokkaido Air System, and Ryukyu Air Commuter.
See also
References
- ↑ "JAL Forms "JAL Express" as New Domestic Subsidiary" (Press release). Japan Airlines. 1997-03-10. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
- 1 2 3 沿革 [History] (in Japanese). Japan Airlines. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
- ↑ "J-Air" (PDF). Flight International. Reed Business Information. 2004-03-23. p. 89. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ↑ "JAL Subsidiary Airlines" (Press release). Japan Airlines. 2000-01-20. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ↑ "Japan Airlines". ATW Daily News. Penton Media. 2007-04-03. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ↑ "History of JAL 2001-2004". Japan Airlines. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ↑ http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20100710p2a00m0na010000c.html Archived July 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2010070900433 Archived July 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ 会社案内 [Company Information] (in Japanese). JAL Express. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
- ↑ "JAL Express fleet list". Retrieved 2013-09-27.
- ↑ 国内線 機内座席配置 [Domestic In-flight Seating and Facilities] (in Japanese). Japan Airlines. Retrieved 2009-08-17.
- 1 2 機内サービス [In-flight Services] (in Japanese). JAL Express. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
- ↑ "Beverage Service". Japan Airlines. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ↑ "In-flight Service". Japan Airlines. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to JAL Express. |
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Official website of JAL Japan Airlines
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