JAL cuts international flight frequencies; strike threatened

Citing the "slow recovery in air transport demand," Japan Airlines yesterday said it would "strive to improve profitability by adjusting capacity" and announced a reduction in its international schedule effective July 1.

The company reported a ¥63.1 billion ($640.9 million) net loss in the fiscal year ended March 31 and said it expects a similar result this term (ATWOnline, May 13).

Cuts in service implemented in March to Shanghai Pudong, Beijing, Taipei and Hong Kong, originally set to expire at the end of this month, will be reimposed. Tokyo Narita-PVG will operate 21-times-weekly instead of 28 from Aug. 1 to Oct. 24, NRT-Taipei will operate 21-times-weekly instead of 28 from July 1 to Oct. 24 and NRT-PEK will operate 14-times-weekly instead of 19 Aug. 1-Oct. 24. Tokyo Haneda-HKG will operate thrice-weekly rather than daily Sept. 1-17 and Oct. 12-24.

New cuts will occur on flights from NRT to Incheon (to 21-times-weekly from 28 July 1-Oct. 24) and New Delhi (to thrice-weekly from four-times-weekly July 1-Oct. 24) and from Osaka Kansai to PVG and Incheon (both to 14-times-weekly from 21 Aug. 1-Oct. 24).

Meanwhile, the airline said unions representing JAL International pilots, flight attendants and ground staff have threatened to strike starting Wednesday. The JAL Pilots Union (660 members) "indicated plans" for a 72-hr. strike, the JAL Labor Union (90) and JAL Japan Labor Union (660) flagged a 6-hr. strike and the JAL Flight Crew Union (1,150) threatened a 24-hr. walkout.

JAL said only a pilot strike extending into a third day would affect domestic flight operations while its international schedule would operate normally. "The unions are still in negotiations with JAL management," the airline said. It was unclear weather the strike warnings were related to the aforementioned schedule cuts.