JAL Ordered to Improve Operations after Drinking Scandal

December 21, 2018

Tokyo--Japan's transport ministry issued a business improvement order to Japan Airlines <9201> on Friday, following a recent heavy drinking incident involving a JAL copilot.

The ministry summoned JAL President Yuji Akasaka and handed him the order.

The ministry also gave stern warnings to All Nippon Airways, the core unit of ANA Holdings Inc. <9202>, and subsidiary ANA Wings, along with Skymark Airlines, over similar problems, urging them to take thorough steps to prevent any recurrence.

In October, alcohol substantially exceeding the limit was detected in a JAL male copilot before a flight from Britain and he was detained by local police. JAL fired the copilot after a court sentenced him to 10 months in prison without suspension.

The man apparently cheated on an alcohol check conducted by JAL before the flight, after he drank large amounts of beer and other alcoholic beverages a day before the detention.

The ministry is believed to have concluded that the management responsibility of JAL is heavier than that of the other airlines.

Also in October, a male captain of ANA Wings became unable to board a flight because he felt sick a day after drinking alcoholic beverages including beer in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan.

The captain violated an ANA group rule banning drinking 12 hours or less before flights. He was told to leave the company.

At Skymark, alcohol was detected in a male American captain before a flight from Tokyo International Airport at Haneda in November, after he drank large amounts of beer a day before.

He was unfamiliar with how to use an alcohol test device and unable to undergo a detailed check. The airline replaced him with another captain for the flight. Jiji Press