Actually, it's not that special!? The world of business jets offered by JAL

The business jet market is expected to expand in Japan in the future

"JAL and JAL Business Aviation are considered to be in the same business in that they provide air transportation services, that is, they are air transport companies, but their actual operations are completely different. JAL owns aircraft and operates mainly scheduled flights, but JAL Business Aviation does not own any planes."

Yoshida from the sales department explains: JAL Business Aviation was founded in January 2019 in collaboration with Marubeni Aerospace, which has been managing and operating aircraft owned by aircraft owners. Its core business is the charter (flight arrangement) business of business jets, also known as private jets. We rent aircraft from business jet operating companies, of which there are several in Japan and around 2,000 worldwide, as well as from aircraft owners, and provide flights tailored to customer needs.

We also assist customers who are considering purchasing a business jet, and take care of the aircraft they own, arranging for its management and maintenance, as well as ground handling for its operation.

Ishii: "Until a few years ago, the number of business jet flights into Japan was around 2,000, but in recent years, that number has increased to 5,000. If that number continues to increase, I think it will attract attention in Japan as well."

There is a big gap between the number of business jets in the United States, which has over 13,000, and Japan, which has only a few dozen. You might think that there are few benefits to using a business jet in Japan, where there are many scheduled flights and the land area is small, but that is not the case.

High efficiency, safety, and secrecy: the benefits of using business jets

The greatest benefit of using it may be on the front lines of business.

Yoshida: "Modern business demands speed and efficiency. For example, an increasing number of customers fly to Europe on a JAL scheduled flight and then charter a business jet for travel from there. To travel to small cities in Europe or North America, you may need to transfer twice, depending on the location. In some cases, the transfer can take several hours, which is a big burden for customers. However, if you use a business jet, you only need to transfer once, and it is extremely smooth. Confidentiality and safety can be ensured."

It is ideal for business needs such as meeting more clients or visiting more locations in a limited amount of time.

Yoshida: "The fact that they took the trouble to come by business jet will be a big selling point during business negotiations."

Ishii: "We also have customers who use our business jets not only for business purposes, but also for personal use. For example, we have customers who take their small children to Hawaii on business jets. It will be an unforgettable memory for the children."

Your destination and onboard experience are up to you

Another advantage of business jets is that customers can arrange their time on board exactly how they want. Uemura from the Airport Business Division explains the appeal of this.

Uemura: "We will order meals from our partner catering companies, hotels, and restaurants of your choice, and do our best to meet your requests. Of course, we will also provide your favorite magazines and movies. Basically, we do our best to meet all your requests."

The time you spend on board is not just time spent traveling, but something you will cherish. And there is no room for error when it comes to safety.

Yoshida: "There are charter aircraft operators all over the world, but the quality is not uniform. However, as a member of the JAL Group, we want to provide the same high level of safety as scheduled flights. Among the companies that own aircraft, we carefully select those that have been highly evaluated by third-party organizations. In addition to the best service, we also provide the highest level of peace of mind."

Simply apply and we'll organise an efficient flight for you in no time.

If you have read this far, you may feel that business jets are a service only available to a very limited number of customers. However, the barrier to using them is not high. If you contact JAL Business Aviation, we will quickly prepare the optimal plan for you.

Yoshida: "We can meet the diverse needs of a wide range of customers. If you let us know the section and purpose of your trip, we will propose the best plan that meets your needs."

Ishii: "There are many types of business jets. We can arrange them according to the number of people and baggage, from 5-6 seater to 19 seater. Larger aircraft can access the United States and Europe directly. For larger groups, we can also provide large aircraft used for scheduled flights that have been modified to business jet specifications."

Yoshida: "If you prefer domestically produced aircraft, there is also the much talked about HondaJet. We often receive inquiries from people saying, 'I'd love to try this aircraft once.'"

Once that's all done, all you have to do is show up at the airport.

Uemura: "At Haneda, Narita and Kansai International Airport, you will enter through a special gate within the airport. You will need to go through the same immigration procedures as for regular flights, but we will make arrangements so that you don't have to wait even on international flights."

In this way, staff from the Airport Business Division will welcome customers with care.

Ishiguro: "Hospitality at the airport is something special. We pay close attention to even the simplest details, like opening and closing the doors, so that our customers feel that it is seamless. Through our high-quality service, we aim to provide ground handling that makes our customers feel glad to have used our service."

Yoshida: "At the earliest, immigration inspections can be completed within about 10 minutes of arriving at the airport, so if the runway is not congested, it is possible to depart 30 minutes after arriving at the airport."

Through JAL's efforts, we aim to make Japan a place where business jets are easy to use.

In fact, business jets operate at the airports you use every day, and we are conscious that the service that JAL provides must be special.

Ishiguro: "We are doing our best to ensure that our customers feel that there is added value in knowing that Japan Airlines operates business jet charter services."

Uemura: "As we carry the Tsurumaru emblem, we must adhere to the rules and regulations and provide a sense of security. We are still newcomers, but as an airline with a long history, we want to provide services that our customers can be proud of."

Through each of these initiatives, JAL Business Aviation hopes to boost Japan's business jet market.

Ishii: "Major cities in the U.S. and Europe have airports and terminals exclusively for business jets. Japan still pales in comparison, but I hope that our country will also open up its gateways for business jets even more."

Yoshida: "This is not something we can do alone; we need to work together as a public and private sector. I hope that the entry of the JAL Group into the market will encourage competition and enable us to provide better services. We are the only Japanese airline aiming to become a comprehensive business jet company."

By engaging in all aspects of aviation, from scheduled flights to charter flights, JAL believes it can provide even more comprehensive services as a full-service carrier. Please feel free to contact us. We will prepare the highest quality air travel just for you.

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