JAL - Japan Airlines (JL, Tokyo Haneda) has taken delivery of its first A350-1000, ferrying it from Toulouse Blagnac to Tokyo Haneda on December 14, 2023. A long-range widebody, JA01WJ (msn 610) is the first of 13 of the type due to the airline.

As recently reported in ch-aviation, the Japanese carrier had initially hoped to send the aircraft into service by the end of 2023, but the start date has slipped to January 24, 2024. JA01WJ will work the Tokyo Haneda - New York JFK route. Last week, JAL announced Dallas/Fort Worth would be the A350-1000's second destination, although it did not provide a firm start date for that route.

JA01WJ flies just 239 passengers in a premium heavy configuration, with six seats in first class, 54 seats in business class, 24 seats in premium economy class, and 155 seats in economy class. Airbus says its clean sheet A350 design delivers "unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort." Including JAL's first A350-1000, there are now 297 of the type in service with 22 airlines.

When deliveries are complete, JAL's thirteen A350-1000s will replace the existing B777-300ER fleet that are currently doing the bulk of the airline's long-haul flying.