Japan Airlines is in the process of refreshing its long haul fleet. The oneworld airline is gradually replacing its Boeing 777-300ERs with Airbus A350-1000s. Not only is the A350 a joy to fly in general, but these planes are particularly exciting, given that they feature an all-new passenger experience.
I’ve reviewed Japan Airlines’ new A350 first class and A350 business class, and they’re both spectacular, among the best in their respective competitive sets. If you want to redeem miles for these experiences, see my guide to doing so.
In this post, I’d like to provide an update on the routes on which you’ll find the A350-1000. Currently, the plane is in service on four daily frequencies across three routes, and plans have been announced for the aircraft to serve two more destinations.
Let me emphasize that these A350-1000s are separate from the company’s A350-900s, which are exclusively used for domestic flights, and feature a completely different layout.
In this post:
Japan Airlines’ A350-1000 fleet progress
Japan Airlines has so far taken delivery of nine Airbus A350-1000s, out of the 13 that the airline has on order, with the following registration codes:
- JA01WJ operated its delivery flight from Toulouse (TLS) to Tokyo (HND) on December 14, 2023
- JA02WJ operated its delivery flight on January 13, 2024
- JA03WJ operated its delivery flight on March 30, 2024
- JA04WJ operated its delivery flight on July 31, 2024
- JA05WJ operated its delivery flight on August 10, 2024
- JA06WJ operated its delivery flight on October 2, 2024
- JA08WJ operated its delivery flight on December 6, 2024
- JA09WJ operated its delivery flight on January 29, 2025
- JA07WJ operated its delivery flight on April 23, 2025
Japan Airlines is taking delivery of these jets progressively, and all 13 A350-1000s aren’t expected to join the oneworld carrier’s fleet until 2028, at which point the 777-300ERs will be retired. The airline has certainly done an impressive job with the pace at which these deliveries have started, as nine aircraft have joined the fleet within 17 months.
When should we expect additional A350-1000s to join the fleet? The airline anticipates having a total of 11 of these aircraft by the end of Japan’s 2025 fiscal year, which would be by March 31, 2026. So by then, we can expect that at least two additional A350-1000s will be flying.
Japan Airlines’ current A350-1000 routes & flights
Japan Airlines currently operates the Airbus A350-1000 daily on four daily frequencies to three destinations — New York (JFK), Dallas (DFW), and London (LHR).
Japan Airlines flies the Airbus A350-1000 twice daily between Tokyo (HND) and New York (JFK). The airline operates two daily frequencies in the market, and both feature this special jet:
JL6 Tokyo to New York departing 11:05AM arriving 10:50AM
JL5 New York to Tokyo departing 1:45PM arriving 5:15PM (+1 day)
JL4 Tokyo to New York departing 6:30PM arriving 6:30PM
JL3 New York to Tokyo departing 1:40AM arriving 4:45AM (+1 day)
On top of that, Japan Airlines flies the A350-1000 daily between Tokyo (HND) and Dallas (DFW), with the following schedule:
JL12 Tokyo to Dallas departing 10:55AM arriving 8:40AM
JL11 Dallas to Tokyo departing 11:05AM arriving 2:40PM (+1 day)
Lastly, Japan Airlines flies the A350-1000 daily between Tokyo (HND) and London (LHR). The airline operates this route twice daily, and the following frequency features the A350:
JL43 Tokyo to London departing 9:50AM arriving 3:15PM
JL44 London to Tokyo departing 6:30PM arriving 5:20PM (+1 day)
Japan Airlines’ future A350-1000 routes & flights
Japan Airlines has formally announced that Paris (CDG) and Los Angeles (LAX) will be the next two destinations for the Airbus A350-1000.
As of May 1, 2025, Japan Airlines will fly the Airbus A350-1000 every other day between Tokyo (HND) and Paris (CDG), on the following frequency:
JL45 Tokyo to Paris departing 10:20AM arriving 5:55PM
JL46 Paris to Tokyo departing 8:25PM arriving 5:20PM (+1 day)
Note that the plane will fly the route daily between May 5 and June 30, 2025, but then as of July 1, 2025, the plane returns to operating the route every other day.
Next, as of June 30, 2025, Japan Airlines will fly the Airbus A350-1000 daily between Tokyo (HND) and Los Angeles (LAX), on the following frequency:
JL16 Tokyo to Los Angeles departing 5:00PM arriving 11:00AM
JL15 Los Angeles to Tokyo departing 1:30PM arriving 5:25PM (+1 day)
Bottom line
Japan Airlines put its Airbus A350-1000 into commercial service in early 2024, and its footprint is expanding quickly. The airline has nine planes in this sub-fleet, operating four daily frequencies to three destinations, including New York (JFK), Dallas (DFW), and London (LHR).
The expectation is that the next destinations for the A350-1000 will be Paris (CDG) as of May 1, and Los Angeles (LAX) as of June 30.
What do you make of Japan Airlines’ Airbus A350-1000 routes?
I've been looking for business award availability for HND-JFK on JAL and I keep getting recommended flights with 2 connections in the US instead of this nonstop route. I'm looking at the window of 2-3 weeks or less before departure to see what it might look like in June when I plan to fly. Redeeming Capital One miles. Any tips?
Can also fly from CTS but not this departure airport doesn't populate on the site I've been using.
Meanwhile ANA waits patiently in the hope that the 777-9 will enter commercial service before 2030...
Nice, good update. I’m sad that my more common route (LAX - KIX) will have the krufty 787 until the end of time, but I guess it’s progress.
Dang. I'm one month too early out of LAX, I guess I'll have to suffer through F on the 77W lol
Booked this flight last year for July 1st in first class!!! Looks like Im getting a aircraft upgrade!!!!!!!!
I can't wait to try this plane sometime soon.
Any idea about TYO-ORD?
@ Jalrabu -- Well, it seems to be one of the last 777 routes to be getting the A350 (along with SFO), so it could still be some time. Nothing has been announced. I guess that's not too surprising, since it's also one of the last markets where ANA is flying its reconfigured 777s.
I too was hoping for an aircraft upgrade on the ORD route for September travel. Alas, doesn't look like this is in the cards. So closer to my dates of travel, I shall look into changing one of my legs to travelling out of JFK. Thus I will be able to experience JAL's F service on both types.
From May 31 JAL will add NRT-ORD with 77W and HND-ORD will be rescheduled to optimize aircraft utilization.
So it would be challenging for JAL to maintain efficiency if JAL upgrades HND-ORD with A35K - maybe NRT-ORD will also get A35K eventually if they acquire A35K beyond currently planned 13 frames.
The aircrafts are scheduled for a pattern of HND-ORD-NRT-ORD-HND. So if HND ORD gets upgraded, NRT ORD will also need to be upgraded. I did not count the hours, but it might be too tight to do all rotations with 2 frames only.
@CPH-Flyer @A_Japanese
I disagree. JAL currently plies the Tokyo - London route going double daily with a B787 and A350 if memory serves.
FYI, JAL announced that A350-1000 will fly HND-CDG on every other day till Aug 30, but JAL still does not confirm when HND-CDG gets daily A350-1000.
@ A_Japanese -- The schedule has been updated to show the A350 daily between May 5 and June 30, though.
Sorry for confusion.
I mean, for HND-CDG,
May 5-Jun 30 = daily A350-1000 service
Jul 1- Aug 30 = A350-1000 service on every other day
Aug 31 - no announce so far.