JAL Announces Measures to Prevent Recurrence of Cabin Crew Alcohol Incidents

Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced measures to prevent recurrence following inappropriate incidents involving alcohol and cabin crew members.

The measures consist of seven items. They include education to ensure that awareness of alcohol-related risks is thoroughly instilled, including among non-habitual drinkers; consideration of voluntary initiatives for responsible drinking; and safety education that returns employees to the fundamentals of their role as safety personnel.

Training for holders of senior qualifications is scheduled to be completed in August. A system for intensive follow-up support for newly assigned crew members is also scheduled to begin in October. JAL has formalized assertion training (a technique for appropriately communicating one’s requests and opinions to others) and strengthened its testing system by moving pre-reporting tests online. Initiatives to reduce psychological pressure are also scheduled to begin on September 15.

The alcohol testing system will be conducted in four stages: a pre-reporting test, a pre-duty test, a pre-duty test (main test), and a post-duty test.

The pre-reporting test will be conducted at home or at a hotel, with online notification to the company confirming that the employee is not under the influence of alcohol at home or at the hotel. The preliminary test is similar, but without online notification.

The pre-duty test will be conducted at an airport office, near the boarding gate, or other airport locations, with online notification to the company confirming that the employee is not under the influence of alcohol before beginning work. The post-duty test will be conducted at the aircraft side, onboard the aircraft, or elsewhere at the arrival airport, with online notification certifying that the employee was not under the influence of alcohol while on duty.

Within the Cabin Attendant Division, improving risk awareness, enhancing psychological safety, strengthening detailed management of general staff by managers, and introducing management of drinking tendencies are organizational priorities. Measures for each of these areas will be completed by November.