JAL executives lose pay over pilot drinking incident

January 25, 2025

Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced pay reductions for two of its most senior leaders following a recent case of pilots breaching alcohol regulations.
CEO Mitsuko Tottori and Chairman Yuji Akasaka will both see their salaries reduced by 30% for two months, according to reports.
The disciplinary action follows an incident last month where two pilots tested positive for alcohol before a scheduled flight.
The crew, who had been drinking the previous day, caused a three-hour delay to a Melbourne-to-Tokyo flight after failing a preflight check at their hotel.
JAL enforces a strict policy prohibiting alcohol consumption within 12 hours of reporting for duty.
In addition to the pay cut, Akasaka will no longer oversee safety operations at the airline. JAL also stated that three other senior managers in its flight operations and safety divisions are under review for potential disciplinary action.