Japan Airlines' Bold Personnel Move... First Female President and Former Flight Attendant Appointed

Japan Airlines (JAL), a Japanese national airline, has appointed its first female president who is a former flight attendant.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on the 18th, Japan Airlines announced that Mitsuko Dottori, Executive Director, will be appointed as president effective April 1.

Mitsuko Dottori, Executive Director, Appointed as New President of Japan Airlines [Image Source=Yonhap News]

This is the first time a woman or a former flight attendant has been appointed as president of Japan Airlines, making it an unprecedented event.

President-designate Dottori graduated from a two-year junior college and joined as a stewardess in 1985. After working as a flight attendant for many years, she served as head of the cabin crew in 2015, director of the cabin division in 2020, and was appointed Chief Customer Officer (CCO) and Executive Director last year.

At a press conference, Dottori expressed pride regarding the incident on the 2nd involving the runway collision at Haneda Airport, where all passengers escaped safely thanks to the guidance of Japan Airlines flight attendants. She stated, "I am proud," and added, "I will approach my role with an even stronger commitment to safe flight operations, which are the foundation of an airline."