JAL NORIBEN or Seaweed Ben (Source: JAL Press Release)

Yes another inflight catering announcement from Japan Airlines (JAL) today (that's one more coming about the domestic cheese but I will wait for the English PR to be released so I don't have to translate all the cheese names which is a challenge :P)! This time it is something new, a bento box called "NORIBEN" or "Seaweed Ben". It is a collaboration between JAL and Soup Stock Tokyo, a famous fast food chain in Japan. JAL will be serving this special bento box on flights departing from Tokyo Haneda (HND) to San Francisco (SFO), Bangkok (BKK) and Singapore (SIN) between September 1 2012 and February 28 2013.

JAL AIR Yoshinoya (Source: JAL Press Release)

Earlier in spring, Japan Airlines (JAL) introduced the AIR Yoshinoya on select long-haul routes departing from Japan. It was so popular that JAL expanded this to the long-haul flights departing from Tokyo Haneda which usually are not part of the promotion. A lot of customers have expressed that they miss the Air Yoshinoya since the offer ended in May and said they want to enjoy AIR Yoshinoya when they fly back to Japan as well. That's why JAL has decided to bring back the popular dish once again this fall.

JAL AIR Tamimeiken (Source: JAL Press Release)

Japan Airlines (JAL) has teamed up with the popular Japanese western restaurant Tamimeiken to create "AIR Taimeiken", 6th in the "Air Series" which JAL tie-up with well-known restaurants in Japan to provide special inflight meals. This will be served on select long-haul flights departing from Japan between September 1 and November 30 2012.

This is the first trip report that involves airlines other than Japan Airlines (JAL). It will include the following flights:

• American Airlines Business Class Los Angeles to New York JFK
• Japan Airlines First Class New York JFK to Tokyo Narita
• Japan Airlines Class J Tokyo Haneda to Okinawa Naha
• Japan Airlines Class J Okinawa Naha to Tokyo Haneda
• Japan Airlines First Class Tokyo Narita to Jakarta
• Cathay Pacific Airways First Class Jakarta to Hong Kong
• Cathay Pacific Airways First Class Hong Kong to Los Angeles

According to TBS News, Japan Airlines (JAL) flight 442 from Moscow Domodedovo (DME) to Tokyo Narita (NRT) landed safely at NRT on August 21 2012. But post-arrival check found that 6 of the front wheel screws were missing. NRT Runway B was closed briefly for 15 minutes to look for the missing screws. JAL deploys its state of art 787-8 on the DME route. As shown by the video on TBS site, the aircraft involved was JA825J, which was the first 787 delivered to JAL. No words on the cause of the incident yet.

Japan Airlines (JAL) has just announced the revised fuel surcharge for international tickets issued between October 1 and November 30 2012. Due to the lower 2-month average price of Singapore kerosene-type jet fuel which JAL uses as the benchmark, the fuel surcharge will decrease from the current Zone G to Zone F. This means for a long-haul ticket, the fuel surcharge will drop from $296 to $264 one-way. For more details of JAL fuel surcharge and its adjustment scheme, you can refer to the press release (Japanese, English)

Japan Airlines (JAL) has just announced changes to their schedule for the second half of the current fiscal year ending in March 2013. Quite a lot of the changes, mainly 787 deployments, have been announced before. But there are also some frequency and aircraft changes on regional and domestic flights that are new. However, the press release does not mention anything about the Saturday equipment change on Tokyo Narita (NRT) - Vancouver (YVR) route which upgrades the aircraft to from 767-300ER to 777-200ER with JAL Shell Flat seats that is currently loaded into the schedule. Below are the details of the JAL Group plan for the second half of FY2013.

[Update: Added seat manufacturers information]

Finally, Japan Airlines (JAL) announced the specifications of the next generation long-haul inflight products in all classes. These new seats will first be rolled out on Tokyo Narita (NRT) - London Heathrow (LHR) route starting from January 2013 and will be expanded to New York JFK and the rest of the long-haul Boeing 777-300ER fleets. Also, JAL has plan to update the seats used on the long-haul Boeing 767-300ER fleet too with the latest full-flat seats and other new seats in the second half of 2013!

Today marks the 27th anniversary of Japan Airlines (JAL) flight 123 accident. Just like previous years, bereaved relatives and friends gathered at the crash site to offer prayers for their loved ones. JAL Chairman Masaru Onishi, who was heavily involved in the aftermath of JL123, also climbed the mountain and offered his prayer this morning. Later today, a memorial ceremony will be held which JAL President Yoshiharu Ueki plans to attend.

Today's Japan Airlines (JAL) flight JL006 from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to New York JFK (JFK) had turned around and returned to NRT due to a bomb threat received. According to local news reports, JAL received the bomb threat at around 13:26 JST, about 2 hours after takeoff. The email states there are planted explosive on flights to New York. For security reasons, they have decided to turn around and go back to NRT.