Japan Airlines, once the largest operator of the Boeing 747, has retired the aircraft entirely from its fleet. Symbolizing the carrier’s downsizing amid bankruptcy protection, the 747 has left Japan Airlines’ service to be replaced with smaller aircraft. The last two services by the type were flown on March 1, arriving at Tokyo from Honolulu and Okinawa.

BEIJING — China’s primary space programs are going smoothly, says national space contractor China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp. (CASC), listing the Tiangong 1 docking target, Shenzhou 8 satellite, Chang’e 3 lunar mission and Long March 5 launcher. Last year’s Chang’e 2 mission to the Moon provided a firm foundation for the next phase of the country’s lunar exploration program, CASC says in a report carried by the official Xinhua news agency. It gave no details about progress with the other programs.

The prospective threat to Chinese airlines from fast trains may lessen substantially or at least slow down after the arrest of the railways minister on suspicion of corruption. The arrest is a blow to the railways ministry’s political independence and therefore to its ability to propel its own massive programs with little restraint from other departments, above all the transport ministry, which represents airlines.