Change of Aircraft on Select JAL International Routes and Operation of Temporary Flights

We have received a notice from The Boeing Company USA concerning a revision of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) regarding aircraft powered by General Electric (GE) GEnx Series engines. (*1) As a result, we will change aircraft on select routes operated using JAL's Boeing 787 aircraft to ensure stable operation.

For a list of changes of aircraft from February 1 to March 29, 2014 please click here.

We sincerely apologize to all passengers affected by the change of aircraft for causing significant inconvenience and worry due to a change of flights, class or seats, etc. The contacts below will be pleased to answer your questions.

Next, we would like to explain the background of this matter.

The revision of the AFM is due to a phenomenon in which a 747-8 aircraft of another airline, powered by GEnx-2B engines, experienced a temporary unexpected thrust reduction while navigating through active thunderstorm clouds. (*2)

As we have always navigated along routes while avoiding thunderstorm clouds, etc., safety in operations has been ensured in this regard. However, due to the revision of the AFM at this time, we will be required to avoid active clouds of this kind at a wider range than before. (*3) Consequently, we have found that depending on weather conditions on the day of the flight, the possibility of significant delays and cancellations would increase if we avoided these cloud zones on some of our routes.

Therefore, to minimize our customers' inconvenience and maintain stable operations, we will change aircraft starting from flights departing on November 25, 2013 (Mon).

On other routes operated using the 787, the possibility of thunderstorm clouds, etc. developing along the route is low, and even if this should occur, we are capable of maintaining stable operations by avoiding that area according to our operations manual.

We will continue to change aircraft appropriately depending on changes in weather conditions of the season.

Contacts

Please contact your local JAL reservation center for details. Passengers who hold JAL Mileage Bank Award Tickets are asked to contact to the local JAL Mileage Bank Center, and passengers who purchased tickets from travel agents are asked to contact the travel agent.

• For any inquiries regarding the aircraft adjustment, please contact

  JAL Customer Support Desk

  0120-25-8600 (tolls apply) 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily

  Dial the number below when using a mobile phone or a PHS.
  0570-025-519 (tolls apply)

  Contact number when calling internationally.
  Tokyo 03-5460-3715 (tolls apply)

• For any inquiries regarding JAL international tickets including reservation changes, please contact

  Please contact JAL international reservations and information.
  0570-025-121* (tolls apply) 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. daily

  Contact number when calling internationally.
  Tokyo 03-6733-3062* (tolls apply) 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. daily

  • *The content of conversations will be recorded or monitored to ensure quality service.

  Local JAL Group offices (Outside Japan)

• *1 GEnx Series engines are manufactured by General Electric. There are some differences in thrust and structure between the Boeing 787 GEnx-1B engine and Boeing 747-8 GEnx-2B.
• *2 After flying above or close to a convective weather system at a high altitude, very small ice crystals melted on the warm surfaces of the engine and then refroze on the core, causing a buildup known as Ice Crystal Icing (ICI). The ice broke away and entered the high pressure compressor, causing a temporary loss of thrust. There was no effect on the flight, and an inspection afterwards showed that the high pressure compressor blades had suffered some damage.
• *3 Aircraft are restricted from operating within 90 km or so of the vicinity of any active thunderstorm clouds, etc., along the flight route, when navigating within clouds at an altitude of 30,000 feet (about 9,000 m) or above.

January 8, 2014
Japan Airlines