| Note: This post is updated to reflect that Japan Airlines has announced plans to fly the A350-1000 to both Paris and Los Angeles, so find all the latest information below. |
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 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 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 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)
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 Paris (CDG) as of May 1, followed by Los Angeles (LAX) as of some point in the summer.
What do you make of Japan Airlines’ Airbus A350-1000 routes?
I hate you Ben!
Rest assured that I am only joking, I was thinking about a different carrier for our summer trip to the Far East.
I think that I like the look of the First Class configuration and it might well be worth a squirt, time will tell. Any reviews planned?
Even the dragon likes flying in the A350, therefore, I may even collect a few brownie points too.
Update …. Omission.
Apologies Ben, I failed to notice that you have already reviewed this configuration, if you liked it then perhaps the dragon will too?
I really do hate you now!
Tough to say this, but I’d rather get back to LAX via AA26 which leaves at 8:25pm. Sleep is too important.
While this is off-topic, JAL also announced resumption of daily NRT-ORD service from May 31 (not specified but likely with 788/789), increasing frequency of NRT-SAN, NRT-BLR (from Mar 30) and KIX-LAX, HNL and NGO-HNL (from Jul 18) to daily service, and additional NRT-HNL service during July.
Also, JAL subsidiary JTA (Japan Transocean Air serving primarily between Okinawa and mainland Japan) will begin OKA-TPE service in 2025.
I'll be interested in that JTA route. The last AA ticket I booked to TPE put me on GK and that was... something.
Hi @Ben,
Thank you for the update on JAL's A350-1000 routes. I will appreciate if you update us on Cathay Pacific's new Aria suites. How many planes have been retrofitted as on now and on which routes are Aria suites available.
Only two Cathay Pacific 777s have gotten the Aria treatment so far (B-KPF and B-KPO). B-KQH is in the shop getting it now. I think it would be more appropriate if Ben waited until all 19 First Class-equipped 777s get retrofitted because CX is starting with those planes first given that a new first class seat and new flagship plane will be on the way.
@Elise
Cathay Pacific did not start retrofitting the First Class-equipped 777s. They started with the ones without First Class which are in 3 class configuration of 40J+32W+296Y. These are being retrofitted to have Aria suites in a configuration of 45J+48W+268Y.
@Nasir That’s incorrect, both of the retrofitted 777s and the one in shop right now are former first class 777s. The longterm plan is to get First Class off these planes to eventually make way for the 777x that will have a new first class so they started with 777s with 6F and 53J.