Japan Airlines (JAL) postpones launch of nonstop Tokyo (Narita) and Helsinki service

Japan Airlines (JAL) has postponed the launch of its planned nonstop service between Tokyo (Narita) and Helsinki. The launch was originally scheduled on February 25, 2013. The change was due to the grounding of Boeing 787 aircraft since 16 January 2013. In a press release, JAL said the change was "in view of necessary adjustments to JAL’s international routes utilizing the Boeing 787 aircraft since January 16, 2013."


The rescheduled date of opening of JAL’s Narita=Helsinki service will be announced at a later time and customers with confirmed reservations on concerned flights will be informed about alternative options.

Last January, 3 incidents caused both major Japanese airlines ANA and JAL to announce voluntarily grounding or suspending flights for their fleets of 787s on January 16, 2013.  On January 7, 2013, a battery overheated and started a fire in an empty 787 operated by Japan Airlines (JAL) at Boston's Logan International Airport. On January 13, 2013, a Japan Airlines 787 at Narita International Airport outside of Tokyo, was found to have a fuel leak of 100 liters (26.5 U.S. gallons) during an inspection. On January 16, 2013, an All Nippon Airways (ANA) 787 made an emergency landing at Takamatsu Airport on Shikoku Island after the flight crew received a computer warning that there was smoke inside one of the electrical compartments.

The grounded Japan Airlines Boeing 787 in Boston Airport

ANA and JAL operate 24 of the 50 Dreamliners delivered to date.The grounding could cost ANA over $1.1 million a day. All Nippon Airways said that the grounding of Boeing Co.’s 787 Dreamliner jet has affected more than 100,000 passengers and resulted in the cancellation of more than 1,200 flights.