Nipponica

Pilots are treated differently compared with other employees. The average annual salary for pilots is 20.05 million yen ($135,000), according to JAL's securities filings, while ground and cabin crews average 6.43 million yen and 5.92 million yen, respectively.

Before JAL filed for bankruptcy in 2010, pilots were allowed to commute from their homes to airports using chauffeured vehicles.

Tottori's remarks last week suggest that JAL management still faces obstacles disciplining pilots, who are regarded as nearly untouchable.

Wow, they are all little kings in their own kingdom which makes their behavior even more inexcusable.