JAPAN AIRLINES WAS HANDED the keys to its first Boeing 777-200 at a ceremony in Seattle on 16 February. The aircraft, which has 389 mainly economy seats, will begin services between Tokyo's domestic hub at Haneda and Kagoshima on 26 April. The airline has ten 777-200s on order and another ten options, as well as five 777-300s which will start to arrive in 1998, replacing older 747SRs on dense domestic routes. JAL says that it could eventually use the 777 on international services but there is no firm time-scale for such a move. Boeing is also keen to interest the carrier in the proposed long-range 777-100X. The next major ordering round for the long-haul fleet is likely to be deferred until there is a decision on the second runway at Tokyo's international gateway at Narita.
Source: Flight International
