Japan Airlines’ (JAL) new Boeing B787, now utilised on a just-launched Tokyo Narita-Boston service, features a unique Japanese touch through the aircraft's versatile cabin lighting scheme.
Capitalising on its state-of-the-art LED system, 15 hues will be used to evoke the changing seasons or phases of inflight operations such as the meal service and winding down for the night’s sleep, among others. Japanese culture, which is known to adapt lifestyle activities, including meal presentations (known as kaiseki) or clothes, to certain periods during the year, will be highlighted on JAL’s latest acquisition.
For example, a green tone, dubbed Wakaba, symbolising a young leaf that follows the brief bloooming of the beloved sakura (cherry blossom), will be used in May and June. The blue tone or Natsuzora heralds the coming of the summer skies, cool relief during the scorching months of July and August. Minori, the orange tone, reflecting autumn and harvest time, will be used from September to November.
The configuration consists of 144 seats in economy following a 2-4-2 layout and 42 seats in business class following a 2-2-2 layout. Click here for an earlier report outlining JAL’s Dreamliner inflight details.
Flight JL008 departed yesterday (April 22) at 1146 for the nearly 13-hour journey to Boston’s Logan International Airport, landing there at 1120 local time. This is a four-times-weekly service until May 31, after which it will become daily. The aircraft, which arrived in Japan from Boeing’s Seattle plant on March 27 (local time), is the first of two delivered, with another pair set to arrive in a few months.
JAL spokesperson Sze Hunn Yap claimed the flight was the first non-stop service between Boston and Asia. She said: "JAL is utilising the 787 Dreamliner's long-range capability and suitable capacity to serve distant destinations with a good medium-sized demand such as Boston, which has major industries such as health care, biotechnology and telecommunications, and is also a centre for the arts, higher education and tourism."
Other cities marked by JAL for its Dreamliner are London, Helsinki, San Diego, Singapore (see story here) and, Business Traveller learned at press time, possibly Madrid, Berlin and Dusseldorf.
For more about JAL, visit www.jal.co.jp
Margie T Logarta
Photos: Japan Airlines
