Japan Airlines has imposed a full ban on alcohol consumption by cabin crew during layovers, effective May 27, after a crew alcohol policy violation delayed a domestic flight from Hiroshima to Tokyo Haneda.
The trigger was Flight JL252 on May 23, when a chief purser failed a preflight alcohol test. JAL said the crew member was replaced, but the airline then faced difficulty finding a substitute, delaying departure by about 40 minutes and affecting roughly 186 passengers.
JAL said an internal review found that the chief purser and another flight attendant had drunk beer and wine at a hotel lounge the previous evening, exceeding company rules that already required cabin crew to abstain from alcohol for 12 hours before duty. Pilots were already subject to a total drinking ban during layovers.
The airline said the new rule applies to all layover accommodations, both in Japan and overseas, and remains in place until further notice. Japan’s transport ministry has opened an inquiry into JAL’s safety management and internal culture after repeated alcohol-related incidents involving flight personnel.