Japanese Flight Attendant Announcements: Keigo Used Before Takeoff & After Landing

If you're preparing to become a Japanese language-certified flight attendant or hoping to fly routes to and from Japan, understanding airline announcements is an important skill. Japanese in-flight announcements often use several forms of keigo (敬語), including sonkeigo (尊敬語), kenjōgo (謙譲語), teichōgo (丁重語), bikago (美化語), and teineigo (丁寧語).

In this article, we'll examine two common Japanese flight attendant announcements—one before takeoff and one after landing—and identify the formal language used in each. Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to practice reading kanji, improve your listening skills, and become more familiar with the type of Japanese commonly heard onboard flights to and from Japan.

You can also follow along with the video above as we work through each announcement together.

Why Flight Attendants Need Keigo

Whether you're making announcements, assisting passengers, or communicating during irregular operations, professional Japanese requires an understanding of keigo.

Fortunately, airline announcements tend to use a relatively predictable set of formal expressions. By learning to recognize common patterns, you'll begin to understand both spoken and written airline Japanese more easily.

Before we examine our examples, let's quickly review a few categories of keigo that appear throughout these announcements.

Common Types of Keigo Found in Airline Announcements

Teichōgo (丁重語)

Teichōgo is often grouped together with kenjōgo, but there are six specific verbs that belong to this category.

Some examples found in airline announcements include:

• ございます (formal form of ある)

• いたします (formal form of する)

• おります (formal form of いる)

In modern Japanese, these verbs are typically followed by ます.

Bikago (美化語)

Bikago refers to words made more polite through the addition of お or ご.

Examples include:

• 御用・ご用 (ごよう)

• お知らせ (おしらせ)

• お締め (おしめ)

• お楽しみ (おたのしみ)

• お待ち (おまち)

• お開け (おあけ)

• ご搭乗 (ごとうじょう)

These are generally easy to identify because of the お or ご prefix.

Sonkeigo (尊敬語)

Sonkeigo is respectful language used to elevate the listener or another person.

Examples in these announcements include:

• ください

• お開けになる (おあけになる)

Teineigo (丁寧語)

Teineigo is standard polite Japanese and often appears in the form of です・ます.

Examples include:

• します

• あります

Before Takeoff Announcement Example

Imagine we're flying from Singapore Changi Airport to Narita Airport on Singapore Airlines flight 125.

The aircraft is preparing for departure and passengers are being welcomed onboard.

Tip: Try reading the announcement once silently, then aloud, and finally while listening to the video above. This will help you practice reading, listening, pronunciation, and keigo recognition at the same time.

Japanese Announcement

皆様おはようございます。

この飛行機はシンガポール航空、成田行き、125便でございます。

当機の機長は高橋、私は客室を担当します菊池でございます。

御用がございましたら遠慮なく客室乗務員にお知らせください。

間も無く出発いたします。シートベルトを腰の低い位置でしっかりとお締めください。

成田空港までの飛行時間は約7時間10分を予定しております。

それでは快適な空の旅をお楽しみください。

In Hiragana only:

みなさま おはようございます。

この ひこうき は しんがぽーるこうくう、なりた いき、ひゃくにじゅうごびん で ございます。

とうき の きちょう は たかはし、わたくし は きゃくしつ を たんとうします きくち で ございます。

ごよう が ございましたら えんりょ なく きゃくしつじょうむいん に おしらせください。

まもなく しゅっぱつ いたします。しーとべると を こし の ひくい いち で しっかり と おしめください。

なりた くうこう まで の ひこうじかん は やく　ななじかん じゅっぷん を よていしております。

それでは かいてきな そら の たび を おたのしみください。

In Romaji only:

Minasama ohayō gozaimasu.

Kono hikōki wa Shingapōru Kōkū, Narita-yuki, hyaku nijū go-bin de gozaimasu.

Tōki no kichō wa Takahashi, watashi wa kyakushitsu o tantō shimasu Kikuchi de gozaimasu.

Goyō ga gozaimashitara enryo naku kyakushitsu jōmuin ni oshirase kudasai.

Mamonaku shuppatsu itashimasu. Shīto beruto o koshi no hikui ichi de shikkari to oshime kudasai.

Narita kūkō made no hikō jikan wa yaku nana-jikan juppun o yotei shite orimasu.

Sore dewa kaiteki na sora no tabi o otanoshimi kudasai.

Keigo Used in the Before Takeoff Announcement

Several examples of formal Japanese appear throughout this announcement.

Teichōgo

• ございます

• いたします

• おります

Bikago

• 御用・ご用 (ごよう)

• お知らせ (おしらせ)

• お締め (おしめ)

• お楽しみ (おたのしみ)

Sonkeigo

• ください

Other Formal Expressions

• 皆様 (みなさま)

• わたくし

This announcement is a good example of balanced keigo usage. While formal language is expected in customer service situations, excessive keigo can sound unnatural.

After Landing Announcement Example

Now imagine we have arrived safely at Narita Airport.

Passengers are being informed about arrival conditions and post-landing procedures.

Tip: Try reading the announcement once silently, then aloud, and finally while listening to the video above. This will help you practice reading, listening, pronunciation, and keigo recognition at the same time.

Japanese Announcement

皆様、ただいま成田空港に着陸いたしました。

ただいまの時刻は午前7時53分、気温は22度でございます。

安全のためベルト着用サインが消えるまでお座りのままお待ちください。

上の棚をお開けになる際は手荷物が滑り出るおそれがありますので十分お気をつけください。

ただいまから全ての電子機器をご利用いただけます。

皆様、今日もシンガポール航空をご利用いただきましてありがとうございました。

皆様の次のご搭乗をお待ちしております。

In Hiragana only:

みなさま、ただいま なりたくうこう に ちゃくりく いたしました。

ただいま の じこく は ごぜんしちじごじゅうさんぷん、きおん は にじゅうにど で ございます。

あんぜん の ため ベルト ちゃくよう さいん が きえるまで おすわり の まま おまちください。

うえ の たな を おあけ に なる さい は てにもつ が すべりでる おそれ が あります ので じゅぶん おきをつけください。ただいま から すべて の でんしきき を ごりよう いただけます。

みなさま、きょう も しんがぽーる こうくう を ごりよう いただきまして ありがとうございました。

みなさま の つぎ の ごとうじょう を おまちしております。

In Romaji only:

Minasama, tadaima Narita Kūkō ni chakuriku itashimashita.

Tadaima no jikoku wa gozen shichi-ji gojū-san-pun, kion wa nijū-ni do de gozaimasu.

Anzen no tame beruto chakuyō sain ga kieru made osuwari no mama omachi kudasai.

Ue no tana o oake ni naru sai wa tenimotsu ga suberi deru osore ga arimasu node jūbun oki o tsuke kudasai.

Tadaima kara subete no denshi kiki o goriyō itadakemasu.

Minasama, kyō mo Shingapōru Kōkū o goriyō itadakimashite arigatō gozaimashita.

Minasama no tsugi no gotōjō o omachi shite orimasu.

Keigo Used in the After Landing Announcement

Just like the first announcement, we can identify multiple forms of keigo.

Teichōgo

• 着陸いたしました (ちゃくりくいたしました)

• ございます

Bikago

• お座り (おすわり)

• お待ち (おまち)

• お開け (おあけ)

• お気をつけ (おきをつけ)

• ご搭乗 (ごとうじょう)

Kenjōgo

• ご利用いただけます (ごりよういただけます)

• ご利用いただきまして (ごりよういただきまして)

Sonkeigo

• ください

• お開けになる (おあけになる)

Other Formal Expressions

• 皆様 (みなさま)

• ただいま (meaning "now")

We also see formal grammar patterns such as:

• ～のため

• ～際 (さい)

These are commonly used in customer service and announcement contexts.

How to Practice Japanese Airline Announcements

Reading announcements is helpful, but speaking them aloud will help you improve even faster.

Try the following:

1. Read each announcement slowly.

2. Look up unfamiliar vocabulary.

3. Practice reading aloud.

4. Listen to native audio and shadow it.

5. Record yourself and compare your pronunciation.

6. Gradually increase your speed while maintaining clarity.

This approach can help improve your:

• Listening comprehension

• Keigo recognition

• Pronunciation

• Reading fluency

• Confidence speaking Japanese

Key Vocabulary from These Announcements

• 客室乗務員 (きゃくしつじょうむいん) - Flight attendant

• 機長 (きちょう) - Captain

• 御用・ご用 (ごよう) - Request / need

• 成田行き (なりたいき・なりたゆき) - Bound for Narita

• 飛行時間 (ひこうじかん) - Flight time

• 着陸 (ちゃくりく) - Landing

• ご搭乗 (ごとうじょう) - Boarding

• 手荷物 (てにもつ) - Carry-on baggage

• 気温 (きおん) - Temperature

• 電子機器 (てんしきき) - Electronic devices

Final Thoughts

Japanese airline announcements are an excellent way to practice both keigo and industry-specific vocabulary. By studying real announcement examples, you'll become more comfortable recognizing the formal language used by flight attendants and develop the skills needed to communicate professionally with passengers.

If you're preparing for a Japanese language certification or hoping to fly routes to and from Japan, consider exploring the free resources or learning more about Japanese for Flight Attendants.

Frequently Asked Questions About Japanese Flight Attendant Announcements & Keigo

• What is keigo?

  Keigo (敬語) is the system of formal and polite language used in Japanese. It is commonly used in customer service, business settings, and other professional situations where respect and professionalism are important. Keigo includes several categories, such as sonkeigo (respectful language), kenjōgo (humble language), teichōgo (courteous language), bikago (beautified language), and teineigo (polite language). Airline announcements often combine multiple forms of keigo to create a professional and welcoming experience for passengers.

• Why do flight attendants use keigo?

  Flight attendants use keigo to communicate professionally and respectfully with passengers. Whether welcoming passengers onboard, making safety announcements, or assisting customers during a flight, keigo helps create a polite and professional atmosphere. Because airline announcements are addressed to large groups of customers, they often use carefully balanced keigo that sounds respectful without becoming overly formal or unnatural.

• What type of keigo is used in airline announcements?

  Airline announcements typically use a combination of teichōgo (丁重語), bikago (美化語), sonkeigo (尊敬語), and teineigo (丁寧語). Common examples include:

  • ございます (teichōgo)

  • いたします (teichōgo)

  • おります (teichōgo)

  • お知らせ (bikago)

  • お待ち (おまち) (bikago)

  • ご搭乗 (ごとうじょう) (bikago)

  • ください (sonkeigo)

  Rather than relying heavily on one category, airline announcements usually combine several forms of keigo to sound natural, professional, and easy for passengers to understand.

• Is airline Japanese difficult to learn?

  Airline Japanese can feel challenging at first because it includes industry-specific vocabulary and a higher level of formality than everyday conversation. However, many announcements follow predictable patterns and use the same expressions repeatedly. Once learners become familiar with common phrases, keigo structures, and aviation vocabulary, airline announcements become much easier to understand and use. If you’d like to kickstart your airline Japanese knowledge, download Kokoro’s free Starter Guide!

• What is the difference between sonkeigo, kenjōgo, and teichōgo?

  These three categories all contribute to polite Japanese, but they serve different purposes:

  • Sonkeigo (尊敬語) elevates the listener or another person. Examples include expressions such as お開けになる (おあけになる) and ください.

  • Kenjōgo (謙譲語) lowers the speaker or the speaker's group in order to show respect to others. Examples include expressions such as ご利用いただきまして (ごりよういただきまして).

  • Teichōgo (丁重語) is a special category of courteous language that includes verbs such as ございます, いたします, and おります.

  All three can appear in airline announcements, often alongside teineigo and bikago.

• How can I practice Japanese flight attendant announcements?

  One of the best ways to practice is through repeated reading and shadowing.

  Try the following:

  1. Read the announcement slowly.

  2. Look up unfamiliar vocabulary and kanji.

  3. Listen to a native speaker reading the announcement.

  4. Repeat along with the audio.

  5. Practice shadowing without looking at the text.

  6. Record yourself and compare your pronunciation to the original.

  This approach helps improve listening skills, pronunciation, reading fluency, and familiarity with airline-specific Japanese.

• Do Japanese flight attendants memorize announcements?

  Many flight attendants become very familiar with common announcements because they hear and use them repeatedly. While airlines may provide standard announcement scripts, flight attendants are generally expected to understand the content and deliver it naturally and professionally. Familiarity with common phrases, keigo patterns, and airline vocabulary makes this much easier over time.

• What Japanese level do I need to understand airline announcements?

  The exact level depends on the airline and the complexity of the announcement, but learners generally benefit from having an intermediate understanding of Japanese grammar, reading ability, and keigo. Because airline announcements often contain formal expressions and specialized vocabulary, they can be more challenging than everyday conversation. Regular exposure to authentic announcements and customer-service Japanese can help learners build confidence and comprehension over time. You can also get a head-start on your airline specific Japanese by downloading our free starter guide.

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