Japan Airlines Expands U.S. Presence with New Chicago-Tokyo Flight and More Daily Services from Los Angeles, San Diego, and Osaka – Travel And Tour World

Thursday, January 30, 2025
Japan Airlines expands U.S. routes with a new Chicago-Tokyo flight, more daily services from Los Angeles, San Diego, and Osaka to meet soaring travel demand.
Japan Airlines Expands North American Routes as Travel Demand to Japan Soars
Japan Airlines (JAL) is ramping up its North American network in response to the growing appetite for travel to Japan. Fueled by a surge in tourism, a favorable exchange rate, and heightened interest in Japanese culture, JAL is rolling out new routes and boosting flight frequencies to key U.S. destinations.
A major highlight of the expansion is the introduction of a new daily service between Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Tokyo Narita (NRT), set to commence on May 31. This addition enhances JAL’s existing daily flight between Chicago and Tokyo Haneda (HND), effectively doubling capacity on this critical route. The new service will be operated under a codeshare agreement with American Airlines, offering passengers seamless connections across multiple destinations. Flight JL055 will take off from Chicago at 12:30 PM CDT, arriving in Tokyo at 3:15 PM JST the following day. The return leg, JL056, will depart Narita at 6:15 PM JST, landing in Chicago at 4:00 PM CDT on the same day. Ticket sales for this new route open on February 3.

Japan’s tourism industry is experiencing record-breaking growth, with over 36.6 million international visitors in the past year. The United States remains a strong contributor, with more than 900,000 American travelers visiting Japan in the first five months of 2024 alone. To accommodate the rising demand, JAL is increasing flight frequencies on several transpacific routes. From July 18, the Los Angeles (LAX) to Osaka (KIX) service will operate daily, while daily flights between Tokyo Narita and San Diego (SAN) will resume on March 30.
In addition to expanding routes, JAL is upgrading its fleet, introducing the Airbus A350-1000 on its Los Angeles-Haneda route this summer. This state-of-the-art aircraft features premium Sky Suites in business class, offering lie-flat beds, direct aisle access, and private doors for an enhanced travel experience. Meanwhile, first-class passengers can enjoy train-compartment-style suites with spacious seating and large entertainment screens, redefining luxury in the skies.
JAL is also reinforcing its presence in Hawaii. From July 18 to October 15, the airline will operate daily flights between Honolulu (HNL) and Nagoya (NGO). Additionally, the Honolulu-Narita (NRT) route will see an increase to twice-daily service in July. These enhancements aim to restore transpacific air capacity, which has been slower to rebound compared to other regions post-pandemic.
With competitors such as All Nippon Airways (ANA), Alaska Airlines, and American Airlines also ramping up their Japan-bound services, JAL remains committed to delivering top-tier travel experiences and convenient connections between North America and Japan.

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Tags: Air Travel Expansion, Airline News, Chicago to Tokyo flight, jal, japan airlines, Los Angeles to Osaka, North America Routes, San Diego to Tokyo, transpacific flights, Travel News, U.S.-Japan Connectivity