Tokyo Narita Pushes High-Tech Offerings, JAL/JAS Merge
The Tokyo Narita Airport Authority presently is conducting trials of its e-NAVI service, loaning travelers personal data assistants containing travel aid functions for use in Japan, free of charge—making it easier for them to travel and get around the country, while being productive on the road. Airport officials expect to roll out the service permanently later this year.
In other news, JAL Group this month announced details of changes in network organization, sales and services beginning April 1, when the merger of Japan Airlines and Japan Air System will be completed. Most of the changes affect services and facilities in Japan, with overseas operations less affected as the JAS brand comes to an end.
Narita's PDAs contain a wealth of information for U.S. travelers, including an electronic voice translator from American English to Japanese and vice-versa, a guide to airport facilities, hotels in the immediate area, local tourism, traffic and transport information, currency exchange and flight information in a searchable format.
In addition, the units feature unrestricted Internet access. The PDAs also are equipped with a telephone function. However, the service cannot be used for international calls or for incoming calls, only outgoing domestic calls.
The airport authority is testing the units and service through mid-March and is calling for overseas travelers visiting Japan via Tokyo Narita International Airport to participate in the trials. Applications are being received through March 18. U.S. travelers should apply at www.narita-airport.or.jp at least one week before departing for Japan.
Narita late last year also opened E-Port on the first floor of Terminal 2, offering a range of IT services aimed at business travelers. Arriving passengers, as well as passengers connecting to domestic flights and visitors to the airport can access the new facilities, which include computer terminals with Internet access, extensive business services and self-serve mobile phone battery recharging kiosks.
Meanwhile, JAL Group's planned changes include the complete renumbering of all current JAL and JAS domestic flights as JAL flights, with new, four-digit flight numbers and the elimination of the JAS airline code. International flight numbers will not change, and JAS flight numbers will be replaced by JAL codes.
Passenger service changes include the integration of the JAS reservations system into the JAL reservations system. The integrated system will continue to use the existing JAL telephone numbers for domestic and international reservations.
JAL and JAS airport facilities currently are being combined under the JAL brand. Beginning in April, all JAL airport counters will feature new, "customer friendly" checkin layouts, according to the company. JAL also will introduce new self-checkin kiosks, and more self-checkin machines for JAL international flights— currently available only at Tokyo Narita—will be installed at Kansai International in Osaka and at Tokyo Haneda Airport. Additionally, JAL airport lounges throughout the network will become non-smoking facilities. At domestic airport boarding gates, JAL will install new mileage recording machines for card-holding members of the JAL Mileage Bank frequent flyer program.