Japan Airlines has started to retire its Boeing 77-300ER fleet from service, with the airline bidding farewell to the first of these aircraft on September 19, 2024.
Video footage posted on social media shows ground staff at Haneda Airport (HND) lining the runway to pay homage to the aircraft as it heads into storage.
The aircraft in question was delivered to Japan Airlines in 2005, the fourth of this type to enter service with the Japanese flag carrier, and used to operate with registration JA734J (after retirement it has been changed to N3243P).
After slightly more than 19 years in service with Japan Airlines, the aircraft completed its last revenue flight between Sydney (SYD), Australia, and Tokyo Haneda (HND) on August 20, 2024.
Japan Airlines used to operate 13 B777-300ER aircraft, which will now be gradually replaced by Airbus A350-1000s.
The first of the new A350-1000 aircraft, which are fitted with Japan Airlines’ state-of-the-art interiors and its new luxurious first class suites, was delivered by Airbus to the airline in December 2023. It is expected that by 2026 the 13 new A350-1000s will have replaced the entire B777-300ER fleet like-for-like.