Japan’s top two airlines, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, have announced cuts to their domestic flight schedules for the upcoming northern winter season. These changes will be in effect until 31 March, coinciding with the end of the 2025 fiscal year.
JAL’s adjustments include reductions in flights to several regional destinations, with some routes in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido temporarily suspended due to weather conditions. ANA, on the other hand, will be reducing the frequency of flights on trunk routes, such as Osaka Itami-Sapporo.
The airlines cite various reasons for these changes, including concerns about slowing demand and increased competition within the domestic market. ANA also notes that while their international inbound demand remains strong, their domestic business has not fully recovered from the impact of the pandemic. Rising costs have also made it difficult for them to turn a profit.
To address these challenges, ANA plans to continue adjusting their flight schedules based on factors such as travel demand, competition, and other transportation options. Similarly, JAL has made cuts to their domestic network without providing further commentary.
This cautious approach towards domestic demand differs from the airlines’ optimism towards international travel. Both carriers have announced plans to increase capacity for the year-end period, with ANA expecting a 6% increase for the second half of the fiscal year. This expansion will mainly take place at their Tokyo Narita hub, with more flights to cities like Hong Kong, Perth, and Brussels.
The airlines’ confidence in international travel is supported by their expectations for a higher number of visitor arrivals in 2025 compared to 2024. In line with this, JAL will also be expanding their operations at Tokyo Narita, with additional flights to Melbourne and Shanghai Pudong starting from the end of October. The airline also plans to use its larger Boeing 777s on flights to Honolulu for the year-end period.
Furthermore, JAL will be deploying its new Airbus A350-1000s on more long-haul routes, with the aircraft now serving five destinations including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, and London. From 9 November, the A350-1000s will also operate flights between Tokyo Haneda and Paris, replacing the currently used 777-300ERs.
Overall, these changes in domestic and international operations reflect the airlines’ efforts to adapt to the current market conditions and remain competitive. Both ANA and JAL will continue to closely monitor demand and make necessary adjustments to their flight schedules in order to maintain profitability and strengthen their businesses.