| Note: This post has been updated to reflect that between February 12 and March 29, 2025, Japan Airlines is flying the A350-1000 between Tokyo Haneda (HND) and Singapore (SIN), which is the first intra-Asia route for the aircraft. |
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 now been announced for the aircraft to serve three 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 seven 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
Note that the A350-1000 with the registration code JA07WJ is currently in storage at Chateauroux Airport (CHR), but is expected to enter service soon. For that matter, JA09WJ is currently in production, so should join the fleet in the not too distant future as well
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 seven aircraft have joined the fleet within the first year.
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 four 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 Singapore (SIN), Paris (CDG), and Los Angeles (LAX), will be the next three destinations for the Airbus A350-1000.
Between February 12 and March 29, 2025 (yes, just for a limited time, unlike on other routes), Japan Airlines will fly the Airbus A350-1000 daily between Tokyo (HND) and Singapore (SIN), on the following frequency:
JL37 Tokyo to Singapore departing 10:55AM arriving 5:25PM
JL36 Singapore to Tokyo departing 10:25PM arriving 5:55AM (+1 day)
Then 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)
The airline will work to make that flight daily with the new jet, though we don’t yet know exactly when the route will get the aircraft daily.
We know that after that, the plan is to start flying the Airbus A350-1000 to Los Angeles. We don’t have a date yet, but the airline has revealed that this will happen as of “the summer schedule period of fiscal year 2025.” So during some point in the summer, expect that Los Angeles will get the plane as well. For what it’s worth, the route between Tokyo (HND) and Los Angeles (LAX) operates with the following schedule:
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 seven 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 Singapore (SIN) between February 12 and March 29, Paris (CDG) as of May 1, and Los Angeles (LAX) as of some point in the summer.
What do you make of Japan Airlines’ Airbus A350-1000 routes?
How hard is it to change a flight that I booked thru Alaska with points, I booked the afternoon flight out of JFK JL005 was wondering if there would be any chance of moving it up to the early morning flight JL003 can JAL do this if I call them, doesn't seem like ALaska will be able to
I'm in a similar situation. I'm in the morning (actually night) JAL flight in first class out of JFK but would prefer the afternoon flight. I can't eat at 2:30 AM so I would go to sleep and feast when I wake up (though I risk the chance of my options not being available anymore and I don't want to reserve my meals to eat 8 hours later.) This is in September but there must...
I'm in a similar situation. I'm in the morning (actually night) JAL flight in first class out of JFK but would prefer the afternoon flight. I can't eat at 2:30 AM so I would go to sleep and feast when I wake up (though I risk the chance of my options not being available anymore and I don't want to reserve my meals to eat 8 hours later.) This is in September but there must be award availability in order to be able to change the flight. I booked mine using AA miles, which allows changes and cancellations with no fees but unsure about Alaska.
@Ricky - JL 003 doesn’t serve full meal until 8hrs into the flight, so the situation is perfect for you!
@Ricky - PS You could also choose the meal choice between Japanese or Western on their website under Manage Booking. They publish their menu online as well.
@Junebug. It depends on which airline issued the ticket. Whichever did has control and is the one that would assist you in making the change
Perhaps you and Ricky should just meet in a parking lot and switch. :-)
@Junebug: No, for any changes before the first segment of itinerary it’s the issuing agent’s responsibility, which in this case, is Alaska Airlines. If the ticket is already utilized (ie any flight coming to NY in the same ticket that’s flown) then JAL can also handle the situation.
@Ben
JA07WJ is not in Chateauroux. On January 7th it was flown back to Toulouse. At that point it was under the Airbus registration of F-WZFT. It flew once from Toulouse to Toulouse under that registration and was then re-registered to JA07WJ.
However, in October 2024 it was also changed from F-WZFT to JA07WJ, and officially delivered to JAL. That's when it was flown to Chateauroux, where it stood still for almost 90...
@Ben
JA07WJ is not in Chateauroux. On January 7th it was flown back to Toulouse. At that point it was under the Airbus registration of F-WZFT. It flew once from Toulouse to Toulouse under that registration and was then re-registered to JA07WJ.
However, in October 2024 it was also changed from F-WZFT to JA07WJ, and officially delivered to JAL. That's when it was flown to Chateauroux, where it stood still for almost 90 days before it took a CHR to CHR flight. While in CHR it was returned to F-WZFT.
The question is, what is happening to the aircraft, and why is it still not ready to be delivered.
On a side note, the domestic A350-900 are pealing paint like crazy. Guess Airbus still don't have the paint issues under control.