The JAL Group announced its route, flight frequency and fleet plan for international passenger, domestic passenger and cargo operations for fiscal year 2009, the year beginning April 1, 2009 through to March 31, 2010 (subject to government approval).
Responding to weak demand, especially on international routes, resulting from the global economic slowdown, JAL aims to better match supply to demand by conducting a bold review of its network and flight frequency, whilst continuing to implement its fleet strategy of aircraft downsizing.
The airline group is also targeting greater operational efficiency and profitability by increasing the role of two of its lower overhead subsidiaries: JAL Express and J-AIR. In FY2009, JAL Express will start operating on international routes for the first time, and on domestic routes, J-AIR services using the cutting-edge Embraer 170 regional jet will be expanded.
1. International Operations
With the aim of improving profitability, the daily service between Osaka (Kansai) and London (Heathrow) will be suspended (already announced on Aug 7, 2008), while flight frequency between Tokyo (Narita) and London (Heathrow) will be doubled from 7 to 14 flights per week.
Flight frequency will decrease on three international routes. On the Tokyo - New York route flight frequency will decrease from 14 to 10 flights per week, on the Tokyo - Bangkok from 21 to 14 flights per week, and the Tokyo (Narita) - Seoul (Incheon) from 26 to 25 flights per week.
For added convenience, the number of flights for international passengers wishing to connect via Narita onto Osaka or Sapporo will be increased.
To improve profitability, seat supply on seven routes will be decreased through aircraft downsizing. For example, the smaller, more fuel efficient 777-200ER will replace the 747-400 currently used on the Tokyo - Sydney route.
The airline's award-winning business class, the JAL Shell Flat Seat, will be introduced onto four more routes: Milan, Mexico, Rome and Vancouver. JAL's very latest seats in first and business class - the JAL Suite and JAL Shell Flat Neo seat respectively - will be introduced on the Chicago and Los Angeles routes, as will the airline's new Premium Economy service.
JAL Express, which up until now has only operated on Japan domestic routes will also start operating on international routes. This lower overheads JAL Group subsidiary will operate on 3 routes serving between China and Japan.
2. Domestic Operations
Through a review of under-performing routes, aircraft renewal and downsizing, the JAL Group aims to improve profitability, and, through increased flight frequency using smaller aircraft, the airline group aims to increase customer convenience. J-AIR operations will be expanded once the lower overhead subsidiary starts using the cutting-edge Embraer 170 regional jet, starting in Feb 2009.
3. Cargo Operations
After looking at the demand on each route, JAL has made adjustments to its cargo network in terms of routing, flight frequency and the type of aircraft being operated, once again with the aim of securing profitability. Cargo flights to Manila will be suspended. Through changes to frequency and routings, JAL will start offering five flights a week to both Dalian and Tianjin, increasing the airline's competitiveness in the northern China region. The airline is currently in talks with Nippon Cargo Airlines regarding code share operations in fiscal year 2009. An announcement will be made when a final decision has been made