Japan Airlines (JAL) is suspending 12 domestic routes and slashing flight frequency and capacity on three international routes, as it undergoes a restructuring process.
From April, the struggling carrier will progressively suspend the domestic routes as it closes its offices in Shizuoka, Kobe and Matsumoto.
It will also cut flight frequency on nine other domestic routes, says JAL. Four of these are operated by its subsidiary Japan Air Commuter.
In the international segment, the airline plans to decrease the number of flights on the Tokyo Narita-Shanghai and Tokyo Narita-Sao Paulo (via New York) routes from 28 March.
The Shanghai service will be operated 21 times weekly, down from 28, while the Sao Paulo service will be operated twice a week, instead of thrice.
JAL will also downsize the aircraft operated on its Tokyo Narita-Guam route to Boeing 767-300ER aircraft from Boeing 747-400 aircraft, from 28 March.
The carrier will, however, increase flights on its services from Tokyo-Narita to Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi and Sapporo. The Sapporo service will receive the biggest boost, and will be operated 21 times a week, up from 14 currently.
On the domestic front, JAL will increase flights on nine routes progressively from 1 April.
For cargo services, the carrier will suspend its service to Ho Chi Minh, and cut flight frequencies and capacity on its services to Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong among other changes.
JAL filed for bankruptcy protection on 19 January, and plans to cut unprofitable routes and slash its workforce numbers as part of a restructuring process.
"In formulating the JAL reorganisation plan with a sharp focus on improving profitability, JAL will closely evaluate market situations and effectively capitalise on the upcoming expansion of airports in Tokyo," says the carrier.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
