JAL to increase capacity on Tokyo-Vancouver route from October 28 2012

Japan Airlines (JAL) will increase the capacity on its daily Tokyo Narita (NRT)-Vancouver (YVR) route from October 28 2012 due to increase in demand. Currently JAL deploys its latest 767-300ER with MAGIC-V and JAL Skyrecliners on this route but will switch to 777-200ER with MAGIC-III and Skyluxe.


According to Vancouver local news website news1130, JAL is seeing increase in demand on both sides of the Pacific. Interest from the Chinese and Japanese is increasing and so are demand from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Seoul. From Vancouver, people are interested in going to Bangkok and China via Japan.


The current 763 A43 configuration used on this route has 227 seats, with 30 in business class and 197 in economy class. Once switched to 777 W32 configuration, JAL will provide 302 seats with 63 in business class and 239 in economy class. So there is 110% increase of business class seats and only 21% increase in economy class capacity.


This is not the first time JAL has deployed this configuration on NRT-YVR route. When previously deployed on the YVR route, the rear part of the business class cabin is used as economy class due to lack of premium demand. JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) and oneworld elites traveling on eligible economy class tickets are allowed to pre-select those seats. I did a random check and currently the entire business class cabin is used as business class cabin. It will be interesting to see if it remains this one when it is getting closer to October.