# Japan Airlines new logo (2011)

> Japan Airlines launched a new logo on 1 Apr 2011. Japan Airlines dropped its 2002 arc logo and brought back the tsurumaru, the red-crown crane in a circle first registered in 1959, redrawn with a new Japan Airlines wordmark as part of a fresh start after its restructuring.

## Key facts

- Brand: Japan Airlines
- Launched: 1 Apr 2011
- What changed: Japan Airlines dropped its 2002 arc logo and brought back the tsurumaru, the red-crown crane in a circle first registered in 1959, redrawn with a new Japan Airlines wordmark as part of a fresh start after its restructuring.
- Industry: Travel
- Logos: https://rebrandlog.com/logos/jal-2011/before.gif (before), https://rebrandlog.com/logos/jal-2011/after.gif (after)

## The rebrand, explained

On 19 January 2011 the JAL Group announced a new corporate policy and said its logo would change from 1 April 2011. The release framed the move as a fresh start, with a strengthened commitment to society and renewed determination from management and staff.

The new mark is a red-crown crane with its wings extended in full flight, set in a red circle. According to JAL, the circular crane was first registered as a trademark in August 1959 and was a main feature of the livery for more than 40 years. It replaced the arc symbol and JAL letters used since 2002, and comes with a new Japan Airlines wordmark.

"Japan Airlines started out as a pioneer and ventured on a path where no other company in Japan explored," said JAL Group President Masaru Onishi. JAL said the first aircraft painted with the new logo would be a Boeing 767-300ER for international flights, while signage, name tags and stationery with the old logo would be phased out over the next few years. Uniforms stayed as they were.

In short: A national airline flies back to the crane it never quite left.

## Sources

- https://web.archive.org/web/20260314084130/https://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/201101/003352.html
- https://press.jal.co.jp/ja/release/201101/001143.html
- https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2011/03/01/business/jal-revives-crane-logo-in-return-to-basics/

## Cite this

Rebrand Log, "Japan Airlines new logo (2011)", https://rebrandlog.com/rebrand/jal-2011/, last updated 2026-10-22.