According to Airways Magazine, JAL operated these planes with 'Super Airbus' livery before Airbus became a well-known manufacturer. The design aimed at attracting commuters traveling between business centers like Tokyo. Two stretched upper deck models were produced for JAL in 1986. Both JAL and All Nippon Airways (ANA) retired their last 747SRs in 2006.
A Facebook user commented on their experience: "Was flying with one of those from Tokyo to Osaka in early ‘80-ties, 510 passengers plus crew. Believe flying time 1h10m. JAL had [departure] every hour, and believe ANA had same number of flights. Later always traveled with Shinkansen, Nozomi Super Express, 2h28m from TYO station to Shin Osaka station. Japan is the most efficient country in the world."
Another user highlighted its versatility: "Qatar airways once used one of these 747 SR variants on its Doha to London Gatwick route and was extremely profitable the short range version used for long range showed how versatile these Early 747s were."
Technical changes included extra support for wings, fuselage, landing gear, improved brakes, and about a twenty percent reduction in fuel capacity according to Boeing data. ANA configured their planes with either 455 or 456 seats; JAL’s SUD variant seated up to 563 people.
NASA adapted a former JAL-operated aircraft as a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), designated NASA 911 after acquiring it from Japan Airlines in 1989; it remained active until retirement in 2012.
The primary routes served by these high-capacity jets included Tokyo-Sapporo and Tokyo-Fukuoka flights—routes that still see widebody service today by both ANA and JAL using newer aircraft types.
One commenter noted: "These planes found their niche on the Tokyo to Sapporo and Tokyo to Fukuoka flights. Both ANA and Japan Airlines still use their biggest planes on these two routes." Another added: "JAL and ANA started rotating their SRs between short-range routes and international, to keep the total cycles down and prolong airframe life."
Today’s replacements include high-capacity widebodies such as Boeing’s 777-300ER, which can seat fewer passengers than the old SR but is more efficient across various distances due to advances in technology. As reported by One Mile At A Time (source), JAL is transitioning its fleet toward Airbus A350-1000s for both regional and long-haul operations.
While trains like Japan’s Shinkansen have become preferred for many domestic trips due to efficiency—especially over shorter distances—airlines continue using widebody jets where needed for higher demand or longer internal flights such as those connecting Hokkaido or Okinawa with Tokyo.
Fly Team reports that seven units of the type were operated by JAL while ANA used thirteen before retiring them all by mid-2000s; passenger seating often exceeded five hundred per flight—a record at that time for civil aviation.
With ongoing improvements leading toward lighter materials and more efficient engines—as seen on narrowbody types like Airbus’ A220—the trend has shifted away from deploying very large aircraft such as the original short-range jumbo jet on brief domestic segments.
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