Japan Airlines’ senior management is facing some serious punishment over recent incidents involving drinking pilots. Yes, you read that right. Business works differently in Japan than in the United States, eh?
In this post:
Japan Airlines executives punished over pilot actions
The Japan Times reports that Japan Airlines’ two most senior executives will have their pay docked, following another incident of pilots being above the “legal” drinking limit for flying. Specifically, CEO Mitsuko Tottori and Chairman Yuji Akasaka will have their pay cut by 30% for a period of two months. Furthermore, Akasaka will have his role of overseeing safety measures at the airline revoked.
Three other managers in Japan Airlines’ flight operations and safety management department have been given “urgent consideration” for disciplinary action.
This isn’t the first time that Japan Airlines executives have had their pay docked over pilots drinking inappropriately. In 2018, several managers received a 20% pay cut for a period of three months, following a similar incident.
Of course this level of accountability all very much reflects Japanese business culture, and of senior leaders taking responsibility when things go wrong. Optics also matter. It reminds me of how in 2009, when Japan Airlines was losing money, the CEO would take the bus to work, and would have lunch in the employee cafeteria with everyone else.
Japan Airlines’ issue with drinking pilots
Over the years, Japan Airlines has had a series of flight delays and cancelations due to pilots being over the legal limit for alcohol. Nowadays, Japan Airlines pilots aren’t allowed to fly if they’ve had alcohol within 12 hours of a flight, or if they have any alcohol left in their system by the time they get to the airport.
The most recent incident (which presumably caused this punishment) happened in December 2024, when a Japan Airlines flight from Melbourne to Tokyo was delayed by over three hours, after two pilots were above the alcohol limit. They had both self-administered tests at their hotels a couple of hours before departure, and found they had alcohol in their system. So the flight had to be delayed until the breath test showed no alcohol in their system.
Prior to that, in April 2024, a Japan Airlines flight from Dallas to Tokyo was canceled after a pilot was drunk and misbehaving during the layover, to the point that the police was called.
Perhaps the worst incident of all was in 2018, when a Japan Airlines flight from London to Tokyo was canceled after a pilot was found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.189. At the time, the maximum blood alcohol level for pilots was 0.02, so he was at nearly 10x that limit.
So, does Japan Airlines specifically have a problem with drinking pilots, or what’s going on? It’s hard to know for sure, though a few thoughts:
- Japan Airlines is hardly alone with having situations where pilots get in trouble for being over the limit to fly
- Japan Airlines has a zero tolerance policy for alcohol nowadays, which is much stricter than in most other countries
- Despite how “proper” many aspects of Japanese culture seem, a lot of Japanese people definitely like to “let loose” when given the chance, and I imagine the career of a pilot provides a lot of tempting opportunities for that
Bottom line
Japan Airlines’ CEO and Chairman will each be taking a 30% pay cut for a period of two months, following yet another incident where pilots were found to have alcohol in their system. They’re also facing additional punishments, including the Chairman no longer overseeing safety measures at the airline. Business in Japan certainly works a bit differently than in the United States…
What do you make of Japan Airlines’ senior managers taking pay cuts over this pilot situation?
What is worse this time is once CEO received the news of drinking pilots from senior management, they chose not to report to regulatory authority (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) as required by relevant laws.
JAL reported to the Ministry only after the incident once Mr. Akasaka was notified of this case, after the deadline of the report stipulated in the law.
Ministry issued formal letter of reprimand to JAL for...
What is worse this time is once CEO received the news of drinking pilots from senior management, they chose not to report to regulatory authority (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) as required by relevant laws.
JAL reported to the Ministry only after the incident once Mr. Akasaka was notified of this case, after the deadline of the report stipulated in the law.
Ministry issued formal letter of reprimand to JAL for failure of complying relevant laws so pay-cut was inevitable.
So in reality the paycut wasn’t noble at all. The boss should have resigned. Or been sacked.
This whole accountability-for-what-happens-at-your-company concept is absolutely alien to the weasels running the Big 3 USA airlines. They want all the money, all the prestige, and all the accolades when things go well then when there's a crisis they fly off to Paris to watch the Olympics rather than take a shred of personal responsibility. When things are good they take the credit, when things are bad it's never their fault. Props to the Japanese for...
This whole accountability-for-what-happens-at-your-company concept is absolutely alien to the weasels running the Big 3 USA airlines. They want all the money, all the prestige, and all the accolades when things go well then when there's a crisis they fly off to Paris to watch the Olympics rather than take a shred of personal responsibility. When things are good they take the credit, when things are bad it's never their fault. Props to the Japanese for showing actual leadership.
I really did a double take at this article's headline on the home page. I guess if I had to choose between a pay cut and drinking pilots, I'd take the pay cut too :)
I don't know how the comments get so off-topic here. The bottom line is that if you're capable of piloting a 787 you're capable of following basic regulations about your alcohol consumption. Failure to do so says much about your character. Obey the rules or get your ass fired.
Meanwhile, one of the pilots who caused the problem has been appointed Japan's Secretary of Defense.
That's how you make Japan great again!
Will Southwest Airlines dock some executive pay over one of their pilots recently be arrested for showing up drunk?
Japan is a complex country. Prior to WWII, it was a very militaristic country that engaged in the wars with Russia, China and the US. East Asians who lived under
Japanese occupation harbored deep resentment and hatred toward Japanese military, especially those who were forced to work as "comfort women" for Japanese soldiers. Today, Japanese culture is highly admired and Japanese are widely respected in the Arab world and Africa. However, it does not...
Japan is a complex country. Prior to WWII, it was a very militaristic country that engaged in the wars with Russia, China and the US. East Asians who lived under
Japanese occupation harbored deep resentment and hatred toward Japanese military, especially those who were forced to work as "comfort women" for Japanese soldiers. Today, Japanese culture is highly admired and Japanese are widely respected in the Arab world and Africa. However, it does not grant citizenship to Koreans who lived there for generations. Men are "bread winner" in the society. When they lose their jobs and cannot quickly find new employment, few will commit suicide. Students who fail to enroll in or graduate from prestigious universities, few will commit suicide. Culture grooms characters, shapes conducts and influences opinions. American males tend to go on shooting rampage to kill their former bosses, coworkers, spouses/ girlfriends, innocent bystanders when they face hardship in life. Japan has gangs but nobody notices them. We watch or experience the escalating carnage of gun violence while exporting our violent culture thorough the world, without facing tariff and economic sanction. Japan is an island nation that has zero natural resources. Yet, the world recognizes and envies its multiple iconic 500 Fortune companies that steer clear of weapon proliferation, thanks to its human resources. Unlike Germany that is forbidden to have a strong army but is now exporting weapons to Israel. All four Japanese guides were proud to boast their government's commitment and dedication to maintain and upgrade its infrastructure and historic sites every five years. We neglected ours since WWII and traded it for tax cuts that resulted in bridges collapsed, buildings condemned and roads tattered with pot holes.
Brainwashed Japanophiles like AeroB13a and Proximanova would love to brag how perfect Japan all the day.
These balanced statements are the reality checks.
The best part is that the US, who was merely a victim of Japanese war crimes is yapping about whether should they forgive Japan or not.
Or how good or bad Japanese working culture is, when theirs are either getting paid without even working, or getting your wage thefted after...
Brainwashed Japanophiles like AeroB13a and Proximanova would love to brag how perfect Japan all the day.
These balanced statements are the reality checks.
The best part is that the US, who was merely a victim of Japanese war crimes is yapping about whether should they forgive Japan or not.
Or how good or bad Japanese working culture is, when theirs are either getting paid without even working, or getting your wage thefted after working hard.
Although I'm sure that it has no use for someone who thinks that "black company" and "black economy" are the same terms.
That sort of happens in the US where the CEO is murdered because reviewers deny claims. The management is held responsible for the culture. Good thing the JAL management were not required to commit suicide.
One difference is there is no evidence that Luigi's victim promoted fair handling of claims.
@derek:
Your post speaks to the ridiculous American violent idiotic gun culture rather than anything else.
Hello Ben love your reviews. I am a retired Airline Pilot, I worked for a while at JAL as an expat. This were the rules at the time. You can drink, you have to show up and advise you had been drinking, then you were sent home. But you could not call in and advise of the situation. Since they are a very proud culture a lot of pilots just show up to work and do not say anything.
@MNP: There is no such thing as an expat. You were an immigrant worker. Just like all the other immigrant workers around the globe.
Keep telling yourself that. Does not make it true...
@Justindev
Foreigners who go to another country with the intention of settling=immigrant
Migrant=someone who moves to another country.
Expats actually intend on going home...
Expat contract has repatriation. Expatriates is usually being sent by HQ company to work in their overseas subsidiaries. They have home leave, hardship pay and other benefits over local employees.
Immigrants move to the country willingly without anyone telling them to do so.
So if you’re applying job overseas you’re an immigrant. If you move there on behalf of your company then you’re an expat. Let me be clear most language teachers especially...
Expat contract has repatriation. Expatriates is usually being sent by HQ company to work in their overseas subsidiaries. They have home leave, hardship pay and other benefits over local employees.
Immigrants move to the country willingly without anyone telling them to do so.
So if you’re applying job overseas you’re an immigrant. If you move there on behalf of your company then you’re an expat. Let me be clear most language teachers especially English teachers are not expats…
Correct, JAL has a contract with an outsourcing company based in Ireland (or had at the time). Contacts were for 3 years. JAL did not actually pay us. We legally worked for the outsourcing company. After three years you could choose to renew or not. Work pattern was 6 weeks on 3 weeks off to go home while in Tokyo we all stayed at an Hotel. So Expat is the term.
Senior management taking accountability for the company…what a strange concept. Immigration, DEI and fake climate science is obviously the root cause of this issue.
There is much to be admired with the Japanese business culture.
Accountability and taking full responsibility is something the likes of the Boeing management might take note of.
Shitty people doing shitty things:
Shitty people doing shitty things, Japan:
Skill issue
Ah yes, admiring the black companies, why not.
Now I'm excited to see you saying that the world should learn how Japanese sexual harassment victims don't report that.
Or how should the US hide their war crimes.
Just like how Japan did so.
What are you gibbering on about?
Black economy in Japan, are you serious?
If you are serious about your black economy theory, look no further than the good old boys in the US of A, Sonny-Jim.
As for the remaining sentences, one will not be drawn by such gross ignorance.
@AeroB13a
Wow.
Your stupidity has reached its peak.
The world "company" and "economy" are the same words.
Cambridge, please take this correction of ths English language from AeroB13a the intellectual, and change your dictionary to reflect this revolutionary development of the lingua franca.
You should not sleep at least in your elementary school classes.
No wonder why you brags about spelling a word corretly.
Someone who didn't even earn...
@AeroB13a
Wow.
Your stupidity has reached its peak.
The world "company" and "economy" are the same words.
Cambridge, please take this correction of ths English language from AeroB13a the intellectual, and change your dictionary to reflect this revolutionary development of the lingua franca.
You should not sleep at least in your elementary school classes.
No wonder why you brags about spelling a word corretly.
Someone who didn't even earn a basic certificate of education would brag on a tiniest thing possible.
*the word
Sorry, your brainrotting knowledge level is now rotting my brain too.
Mason, thank you for making me laugh out loud.
Seriously now, you are just gibbering, why?
You are in very deep in a hole of your own making.
Mason, you would be best advised to stop digging before you make an even greater fool of yourself.
Quite pathetic really darlink.
Replace "Mason" with "AeroB13a" and then I'd fully agree.
You didn't even try to counterclaim my claims. "Seriously now, you're just gibbering, why?"
Did you finally realize that you've been making "even greater fool of yourself"?
You would be best advised to go back to watching Skibidi Toilet, your favorite show.
How droll Mason,
Thank you once again for proving beyond any shadow of a doubt, that you and your ‘fanboy mate’ Eskimo, are simply trolls attempting to appear knowledgeable and informative.
The reality is Mason, that you are simply an ignoramus of absolutely no consequence. However, it is so much fun to be offered the opportunity to disabuse you.
Please carry on, one does so enjoy the intercourse.