Japan Airlines is leaving Moses Lake

Company marks 40th anniversary in November

MOSES LAKE - Citing the high price of fuel, Japan Airlines will cease using Grant County International Airport for training early next year.

Japan Airlines Executive Assistant Administration Brenda Martinez said the airline's head office is closing the Moses Lake-based 747-400 training department facilities in March 2009.

"The reason being the high cost of fuel to train a four-engine aircraft," Martinez said. "Other reasons are the cost to bring our trainees and flight instructors to Moses Lake."

Because of the high cost of fuel to run four-engine aircraft, the airline will begin to phase out all passenger models of the 747 in 2009, Martinez explained, and will be switching to two-engine aircraft. The larger aircraft will be used for cargo, but will not fly in Moses Lake, she said.

"It's pretty sad because this is our 40th year here," she said.

The airline marks its 40th anniversary in November.

"The head office understands and knows very well the support we've had for training here," Martinez continued. "It was a hard decision to make to close this training center."

The number of students going through training may vary, Martinez said. There are about 25 students in the current training session, which began May 21 and leaves June 28. The final training session will end in February.

Japan Airlines has one local staff member and five home office staff workers stationed in Moses Lake. Maintenance is provided by Alaska Airlines and has about six mechanics and one supervisor, who will be transferred, Martinez said. Seven Jet Air employees contracted to work at Japan Airlines will be out of work following the last training session, Air America President and CEO Larry Godden said.

Moses Lake Mayor Ron Covey said the airline asked to meet with Covey and City of Moses Lake Manager Joe Gavinski about a month ago, and informed them at the time they would be closing their facilities at the airport because of the fuel costs.

"They have been in the city of Moses Lake for approximately 40 years and have been an excellent business partner, neighbor and friend to the city," Covey said. "They have annually made donations to the city, as is evident by the water feature on display in Parker Horn. We are definitely going to miss them."

Covey said there are no plans to form a community task force to respond to the announcement. In listening to Japan Airlines administrators, he said, the phase-out of four-engine aircraft passenger use means the company will no longer be needing the training facility.

"It is a sad day as far as I'm concerned when someone who has been as active as they have in our community has to leave for economic reasons," Covey said.

Doug Sly, chairman of the sister city committee of Moses Lake, said in meeting with Japan Airlines that any effect to the sister city relationship with Yonezawa, Japan, has yet to be determined.

Japan Airlines officials will also meet with Yonezawa folks to discuss their involvement in the future of the sister city program, Sly added.

The company has provided more than 200 round-trip tickets per year for students, chaperones and Miss Moses Lake participants in the program, he noted.

"They've meant a lot to us, been great partners," he said. "They've facilitated so many outstanding friendships between the two cities - lifelong friendships. If you haven't gone over there, you really wouldn't understand but if you're from Moses Lake, you're a well-known person in Yonezawa."