A “70-question quiz seriously considered by JAL employees” was given to participants on the tour to San Francisco. Participants struggled with the questions that tested their knowledge of JAL in a wide range of areas, from the present to the past. The quiz included relatively simple questions such as “What is the maximum weight limit for baby bassinets (baby beds)? and others are available to the public.
This charter was sold as a package tour (to Honolulu/San Francisco) and as an air ticket. The package tour participants also enjoyed a pre-boarding tour of the Narita Airport Operation Center, where they were able to see the briefing area before departure. The tour also included a visit to the “Operations Control (Flight Operations)” area, which is a must-see for airline enthusiasts.
The event celebrated the 70th anniversary of the February 2, 1954 inaugural flight from Haneda, Tokyo (via Wake Island for refueling) to Honolulu-San Francisco, and included a ceremony prior to departure on a route similar to the first flight, as well as tours of areas normally closed to the public and photo opportunities with the aircraft.
JAL operated a “Special Charter to Follow the First Flight Route” on January 27 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of its international flight service.
The ceremony at the boarding gate also featured CAs in past uniforms! Commemorative photo next to the aircraft to be boarded.
Before departure, a special event was held in front of the boarding gate. Current flight attendants appeared wearing the uniforms of the 2nd, 5th, and 6th generations, and were available for commemorative photos with participants. The second-generation uniforms are the same type worn on the route’s first flight.
Photo spots are available in the area. With photo props in hand, participants could be seen enjoying taking pictures with their phones and cameras against the backdrop of the large model and the image of the DC-6B (City of Tokyo).
At the pre-departure ceremony, special guest Sasha, a model and reporter who works to connect Hawaii and Japan, participated in a talk session. She appealed to the audience, “Be sure to taste traditional Hawaiian food! and appealed to the audience. She also talked about Honolulu, which is a stopover along the route, and the hand-sign “Shaka” pose.
At the end of the ceremony, Ms. Hoshiko Nakano, Executive Officer and Deputy General Manager of Solution Sales Division of JAL, took the stage. She said, “For 70 years, JAL has carried people, culture, and goods as the wing of the world. We planned this flight to give people a taste of the flights of that time. I hope that the passengers can feel the history of 70 years as well as the development of technology,” she said, expressing her thoughts on this charter flight.
The new flight, JL604, uses the same flight number as the first flight at that time. The first flight took 18 hours and 10 minutes from Haneda to Honolulu, and 31 hours to San Francisco, including connections. The charter flight following the same route took 8 hours 15 minutes to Honolulu and 16 hours 25 minutes to San Francisco (including connections). The first flight had 36 seats in first class only, and this charter has 244 seats on a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Onboard, the “70th Anniversary Charter Limited Edition Meal Menu,” based on the first international flight menu with a modern twist, was served. This was offered on the Narita – Honolulu route.
In addition, passengers who boarded the charter flight were given gifts. The gifts included a specially designed “passport case,” a “reprinted 1950s time difference chart/currency converter,” a tote bag, a pouch, and other items perfect for commemorating the flight.
Many of the participants on this charter flight were full of love for JAL, and some of them had experience as JAL pilots with their families. Some of them had experience as JAL pilots in their families. They shared their memories with us, holding precious photos from the first flight.
Upon departure, staff members saw the participants off from the apron. The smiling faces of the participants waving from the window were clearly visible as they departed, full of anticipation for their flight.
© Source travel watch
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