Foundation: 1951
Headquarters: Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo
President and CEO: Yuji Akasaka
Executive Summary: Japan Airlines, commonly known as JAL, serves as Japan’s flagship international airline, headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Founded on August 1, 1951 by Aiichiro Fujiyama at the behest of the government, JAL was established to bolster Japan’s economic recovery post-Pacific War by providing reliable air transportation. Two years following its inception, JAL was officially designated as Japan’s national airline, a status it held for over thirty years until its privatization in 1987. The airline operates from primary hubs at Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda Airports, as well as Osaka’s Kansai and Itami Airports. While JAL has a significant global presence, approximately two-thirds of its operations cater to the domestic market. The company encompasses several subsidiaries including J-Air, Japan Air Commuter, Japan Transocean Air, Ryukyu Air Commuter, and JAL Cargo, which collectively handle cargo transport, aircraft maintenance, and ground support services. JAL’s annual revenue is in the range of US$15 billion.
