JAL launches 787-services to San Diego

JAL’s Tokyo Narita to San Diego

A bridge to Tokyo Narita: JAL’s President, Yoshiharu Ueki; and Thella Bowens, CEO of the San Diego Airport Authority (pictured third and fourth left respectively); helped launch the airline’s “shortcut to Asia.”

• JAL became the first carrier to launch a route to Asia from San Diego, CA (SAN) on 2 December, as it launched non-stop services to Tokyo Narita (NRT). The 9,000-kilometre route is operated with one of the airline’s 787s, making San Diego the third, after Seattle and Boston, US city to boast long-haul Dreamliner flights. During the launch ceremony, JAL’s President, Yoshiharu Ueki, said: “Flying directly into San Diego International Airport, which is conveniently located in the heart of the city, offers transpacific travellers a long-anticipated, efficient and time-saving option.” Before the arrival of JAL’s four-weekly service, San Diego was the largest US city without nonstop flights to Asia with nearly half a million people travelling between the two annually.