JAL Frankfurt’s ESG initiatives

On May 19, 2026, Japan Airlines (JAL) will relocate from Terminal 2 to the eco-friendly Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport. Through this transition to the terminal that leads the world in ESG standards, JAL aims to reduce our environmental footprint and provide a comfortable, accessible travel experience for our passengers.

Through eco-friendly facilities and safe processing systems, JAL continues to pursue a way of travel that is kind to both people and the planet.

As a bridge connecting the world to every corner of Japan, we, at Japan Airlines in Frankfurt, actively participate in Japanese cultural events across Germany, such as "Japantag" in Düsseldorf and "Japanfest" in Munich, to showcase the unique charms of Japan's regional cities.

By bringing together individual travel styles and the distinctive charms of local destinations, we strive to foster new connections that enrich travelers' well-being and revitalize local communities.

To fulfill our customers' wishes to experience the unseen beauty of Japan and discover my special places, we offer the Japan Explorer Pass - a special domestic fare designed for convenient and affordable travel throughout the country.

Air cargo is indispensable for our everyday lives. It connects people and goods globally.

From here in Frankfurt, we deliver things worldwide such as pharmaceutical goods, food products which bring joy to the table, and machinery components which form the basis for manufacturing. Did you know that we also freight household goods that help our customers smoothly settle in when they begin a new chapter of their lives?

Currently, shipping goods to Japan by ocean freight takes about three months. Due to the current international challenges, ships must travel the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope. However, JAL’s air cargo can deliver your goods within seven to ten days after you arrive in Japan. Additionally, our air cargo safely protects your items from any extreme temperature changes enroute.

This fast delivery is more than just convenient. It also helps to sustain your well-being. By initially shipping your daily-use items such as clothes, bedding, children’s school supplies, and even kitchenware, you can immediately begin your everyday life in your new living environment. We would like to support your new start in life so you can feel at home and be yourself no matter where you are.

JAL will continue to provide safe and reliable cargo transport to establish connections for the happiness of people and the betterment of society. The next time you fly with JAL, think of all that cargo in the cargo hold beneath your feet.

Japan Airlines (JAL) has now commenced the operation of self service check-in kiosks and self baggage drop at Frankfurt Airport. With the introduction of this service, we have successfully achieved a balance between reducing environmental impact and expanding accessibility for many of our customers, marking an important step forward in realizing sustainable air travel services as envisioned by JAL.

From an environmental perspective, we now combine the priority tag and the baggage tag into one. Up until now, JAL used two separate tags, meaning a halving of resources needed. This significantly reduces the amount of paper used and cuts down on CO₂ emissions brought about by the production and elimination of such tags .

From a social perspective, many customers can now check in and drop off baggage by themselves at any time on their travel day. This means passengers need not wait until the check-in counter opens which in turn leads to less queues and congestion. This also helps to reduce stress and makes the process easier for our customers. It also supports an efficient work flow which improves the working conditions of our employees.

We will continue implementing new technology to ensure that customers experience safe and comfortable flights.

Please note that some passengers with special conditions may not be able to use the self-service machines. In such cases, assistance is naturally available at the JAL counters, which open from 4:30 pm.

In 2025, the city of Boppard will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its sister city partnership with Ome City in Japan. This is the third oldest partnership of its kind between a city in Germany and a city in Japan. To commemorate this significant milestone, artworks by several Japanese artists have been brought to Boppard along the Rhine River and are being exhibited at the Boppard Museum. Both cities share a deep connection with their respective rivers, and the exhibition is themed "flowing together," symbolizing coexistence with nature and cultural exchange.

We at Japan Airlines, has long contibuted to the exchange of citizens, take great pride in responsibly transporting these valuable cultural assets this year, striving to ensure safety and reduce environmental impact during transit . Through this, we play the role of a sustainable bridge connecting the two local communities and their natural environments. Recently, several JAL employees along with their families and associates had the opportunity to visit the site, where under expert guidance they learned about the artworks and the history of both cities, deepening their understanding of the longstanding friendship and collaborative efforts that contribute to regional development.

We value coexistence with local communities and society, and we hope that such international exchanges contribute to building a sustainable society. Moving forward, we will continue to promote activities that are mindful of both the environment and social responsibility.

On January 18 2025, JAL's "Sharkskin Jet" began its operations, and on January 31 it made its first flight on the Frankfurt route. This aircraft is the first in international service to feature a riblet coating^*1 over a large portion of its fuselage. This technology reduces air resistance during cruising by 0.24%, which is expected to save approximately 119 tons of fuel and reduce CO₂ emissions by about 381 tons annually on the route between Japan and Germany^*2.

Japan Airlines will continue to implement environmentally friendly technologies to promote decarbonization and aim for a sustainable aviation industry.

*1 Riblet: A fine groove structure inspired by sharkskin that reduces water resistance. By forming fine grooves along the airflow of the aircraft's outer surface, air resistance during flight can be reduced.
*2 The projected effects are based on the reduction in air resistance calculated by JAXA, and the fuel consumption on the Narita-Frankfurt route in the past year.

Press Release

Since 2020, JAL Frankfurt has actively participated in the annual World Cleanup Day held every September. Last September marked our 5th year of involvement in this global initiative.

Through our cleaning activities in downtown Frankfurt, we gain a unique insight into the state of cleanliness in our city, and recognize its importance as a reflection of our own behavior.

At the JAL Group, we are committed to taking responsible actions to preserve our planet for future generations. We think glocally^*.

*glocally: willingness and ability to think globally and act locally.

As part of our ESG (SDGs) activities to address climate change, employees from the JAL branch in Frankfurt participated in a tree planting event organized by the city of Frankfurt on February 17, 2024. Under the guidance of the Frankfurt City Forestry Office, we planted 100 heat- and drought-resistant downey oak saplings in the city forest.

According to the LWF ^*1, an oak tree approximately 6 to 10 meters tall can absorb 20 to 40 kilograms of carbon dioxide annually Based on this assumption, 100 mature trees could potentially absorb between two and four tons of carbon dioxide per year. ^*2 This is roughly equivalent to the estimated CO₂ emissions produced by up to five people on a round trip between Frankfurt and Narita in economy class ^*3.

Planting 100 trees is a small step, but we are convinced that such efforts can lead to significant change. We will continue to work closely with the local community to promote environmental protection and create a sustainable future.

*1 LWF: Bayerische Landesanstalt für Wald und Forstwirtschaft (Bavarian State Institute of Forestry)
*2 Estimated CO₂ emissions: Frankfurt-Narita, Economy Class, 1person, round trip, 769.02 kg CO₂e. Retrieved on August 28, 2024