Fleet history
The airline's last McDonnell Douglas MD-11 J-Bird (JA8582) operated its final flight as Japan Airlines Flight 730 from Hong Kong International Airport to Narita International Airport on 12 October 2004. The aircraft was originally introduced into service on 1 April 1994.[148][149] In addition, the airline operated its last two McDonnell Douglas DC-10 flights on 31 October 2005. One aircraft, JA8543, operated as Japan Airlines Flight 736 from Hong Kong International Airport to Narita International Airport, touched down at 16:05. Another aircraft, JA8541, operated as Japan Airlines Flight 952 from Incheon International Airport to Narita International Airport, touched down at 16:37. This marked the DC-10's last flight with the airline, ending over 30 years of operations for this model.[148]
The airline phased out three Boeing 747-200Fs in the 2008 financial year;[150] and operated its last Boeing 747–300 Classic Jumbo Jet as JALways Flight 73 from Honolulu International Airport to Narita International Airport on 30 July 2009, after 26 years of service to the airline group. The aircraft was met on arrival by the "Father of the 747", Mr Joseph F. "Joe" Sutter.[151] One former JAL 747SR was being used as a NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.[152] The airline retired its last Boeing 747 (JA8089) on 1 March 2011. The last flight was a flight from Honolulu International Airport to Narita International Airport, ending 41 years of service with the Boeing 747