Japan Airlines Retires Third Boeing 777-300ER (JA735J) After Final Flight

The third Boeing 777-300ER to be retired by Japan Airlines (JAL), registration JA735J, completed its final flight on September 9.

JAL introduced 13 Boeing 777-300ERs between 2004 and 2009 as its flagship aircraft for long-haul international routes. With the introduction of their successor, the Airbus A350-1000, retirements are progressing in stages. The first aircraft (registration: JA734J) was retired on August 20, 2024, and the second (JA731J) on May 27.

JA735J’s final rotations were flight JL2 from Tokyo/Haneda to San Francisco on September 8, and the same-day return JL1 from San Francisco to Tokyo/Haneda. The outbound JL2 carried 186 passengers (including one infant) and pushed back from Haneda Airport stand 112 at 4:39 p.m. on September 8. As around ten maintenance engineers, ground handling staff, and ground staff saw it off from the ramp, it took off at 5:11 p.m. It landed in San Francisco at 9:53 a.m. local time the same day and arrived at 10:04 a.m.

The return JL1 carried 176 passengers (including one infant). It departed San Francisco at 12:19 p.m. local time on September 8 and took off at 12:44 p.m. It landed at Tokyo/Haneda at 2:58 p.m. on September 9 and arrived at stand 114 at 3:07 p.m.

According to JAL, decommissioning work will take about one month starting tomorrow, and the aircraft is scheduled to leave Japan in November. Before its departure, tours to view the aircraft will be held at Tokyo/Haneda Airport on October 4, 10, and 11.

JAL’s 777-300ER is configured with a total of 244 seats: eight First Class “JAL SUITE” seats in a 1-2-1 layout; 49 Business Class “JAL SKY SUITE” seats in a 2-3-2 layout; 40 Premium Economy “JAL SKY PREMIUM” seats in a 2-3-2 layout; and 147 Economy Class “JAL SKY WIDER” seats in a 3-3-3 layout.

▲ JA735J preparing for its final departure from Japan as flight JL2 (Courtesy of JAL; same for the next four photos)

▲ JL1 arriving at Tokyo/Haneda Airport