Pay Cuts for Japan Airlines Top Executives Following Pilot Drinking Incident
By:
Pilotcenter.net
In a recent development, it has been announced that senior executives at Japan Airlines will be facing salary reductions following an unfortunate drinking incident involving two pilots in December 2024. President Mitsuko Tottori and Chairperson Yuji Akasaka are among the executives who will undergo a 30% pay cut for a period of two months, as revealed by a report from local media outlet Nippon.com.
Additionally, three other executives from the airline’s flight operations and safety management divisions have also been subjected to disciplinary actions in the wake of the incident. Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Tottori expressed regret, stating, “There was a wrong decision on an important point involving directors. We are deeply sorry,” during a conversation with local reporters.
Furthermore, Tottori mentioned that Akasaka will be relieved of his duties as safety controller moving forward. The incident occurred on December 1, 2024, when flight JL 774, scheduled to depart from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Tokyo’s Narita Airport (NRT), faced a delay of over three hours due to the two pilots testing above the permissible alcohol limit.
Japan Airlines has established internal guidelines prohibiting alcohol consumption within 12 hours of boarding, with the carrier implementing a new breathalyser system at foreign airports in 2018 to monitor its pilots. Notably, Tottori, who started her career at Japan Airlines as a flight attendant, achieved the remarkable milestone of becoming the company’s first female Representative Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer in April 2024.
This is not the first instance where Japan Airlines' top executives have borne the consequences of a pilot’s alcohol-related misconduct. In a previous incident in 2018, managers faced pay cuts of up to 20% for a three-month period consequent to a pilot reporting for duty on a flight from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Tokyo with excessive alcohol levels, leading to the pilot being incarcerated. At that time, Akasaka was also one of the high-ranking officials involved.
These actions underscore the airline’s commitment to upholding safety standards and ensuring responsible conduct among its personnel, reflecting a dedication to maintaining the trust and confidence of passengers worldwide.
