TokyoTomo Travel Guide

Flight stewardess uniforms are becoming increasingly sought after by fetish enthusiasts and the sex industry. The blackmarket in cabin attendant uniforms could also be on the incline too, with the recent financial woes at Japan Airline. JAL flight attendants who may soon face the lay off could resort to cash in their sought-after air hostess uniforms.

The strict-looking JAL uniform is becoming extremely popular on the black market. The dark, subtle-coloured, straight cut hostess uniform is anything other than sexy, being described by a reporter. However JAL uniforms have long been sold in the secondary market with some of these uniforms, the genuine ones, fetching a premium price. Furthermore, if they are worn uniforms, along with a Polaroid photo of the woman who wore it, will sure go for a rocket high price. A full set worn by an actual stewardess could be worth several thousands of dollars.

As JAL plans to downsize and cut more than tens of thousands staff, including making redundant thousands over cabin attendants, there are fears that the influx of JAL uniforms for sale could worsen. Currently there is a strict rule in place, requiring employees who are leaving the company, to return all company’s possessions including worn uniforms. JAL is also considering to follow in the footsteps of ANA, who had a similar problem with their uniforms, by sewing traceable computer chips into the uniforms to discourage their sale.

The blackmarket in flight attendant uniforms is also a concern for security reasons, as it could allow imposters to gain access to restricted areas in airports.

“Hina Matsuri” (in Japanese 雛祭り, Festival of Dolls) celebrated on March 3, is a once a year event during which little girls learn the importance of gentility and thoughtfulness, qualities they would need to become good wives and mothers in traditional Japanese society. A major feature of this celebration is the display of Hina Ningyo, special dolls representing aspects of the royal court during the Heian period (795-1185), usually arranged on a five- or seven-tiered stand that is covered with a celebratory red cloth and placed in the best room of the house.

Both JAL and ANA celebrated Hina Matsuri today with “Hina Matsuri Flights”, by running domestic flights, operated mostly by female ground staff, attendants, mechanics and co-pilots (unfortunately both airlines have yet to have any female pilots promoted to the rank of captain but will soon see one in years to come). At Tokyo Haneda Airport, today JAL1605 bound for Kumamoto and ANA193 bound for Oita were designated to be operated by female staff members. The team of solely female staff from both ANA and JAL, demonstrated each own roles and professions, and their contribution in this much-focused airlines industry.

The two airlines introduced Hina Matsuri flights last year with the intention to highlight the role of women in the airline industry. where most positions available to women were cabin attendants or check-in staff. This has changed and both airlines have began hiring female mechanics, cargo handlers as well as pilots in recent years.

Haneda airport is set to upgrade its Instrument Landing System (ILS) from the present Category II to Category III following cancellation of hundred over flights due to dense fog last week. Last Thursday in the morning, an area of warm, moist air flowed into the Kanto region from the south, which cooled over Tokyo Bay, caused fog to flow into coastal areas. Resulting in bad visibility, paralizing aircraft movements at Tokyo’s Haneda airport and forcing most airlines to cancel flights or to reroute them, disrupting thousands of travelers.

An upgrade to CAT-III instrument landing approach procedures would allow aircraft to begin approach with close to zero visibility, landing in the densest fog, said Mr Maihara, the transport minister. Haneda airport, which is now operating a CAT-II approach and landing system will progressively upgrade for operations under CAT-III conditions. This will enable aircraft to make an approach and land under extremely low visibility conditions up to visibility minima of 30 meters and below, or having no decision height and no runway visual range limitations, as against the current visibility minima of 30 meters and a runway visual range not less than 300 meters (350 meters for certain aircrafts) for CAT-II operations.

The upgrade help optimize operational capability, greatly reduce disruptions caused by weather, reaffirming Haneda’s commitment, is also viewed by many as an essential component for positioning Haneda airport as an International hub.