Report: JAL eyes 16 route cuts by Jun 2010

Over the weekend, the Japanese news press (47 News Japan on 02NOV09) reported that JAL is to cancel 16 routes by June 2010.  These are part of the 50 routes suspension that the media reported in late-September.

However, also noted earlier, local Japanese communities are reported “furious” and demands explanation from JAL regarding the route pull out, which casts new doubts on the scale of these cuts.  As a result, the Government is now considering support (or probably subsidies) to some routes currently operated by JAL, which are seen as “life support” routes to those smaller communities.

馬淵澄夫国土交通副大臣は２日の記者会見で、日本航空の再建計画に伴う路線の廃止・縮小について「ナショナルミニマム（国民生活の最低保障）としての地方路線の堅持は今後の課題」と述べ、地域に不可欠な路線については政府が支援策を検討する必要があるとの認識を示した。

Among the 16 routes reported on Monday, half are Domestic and half are International. Planned route cancellations by June 2010 are:

Kitakyushu – Okinawa Naha
Kobe – Ishigaki
Kobe – Okinawa Naha
Kobe – Sapporo Chitose
Kobe – Tokyo Haneda
Nagoya Chubu – Hanamaki
Nagoya Chubu – Kumamoto
Nagoya Chubu – Kushiro

Tokyo – Hangzhou
Tokyo – Mexico City (Vancouver – Mexico City tag cancelled)*
Tokyo – Qingdao
Tokyo – Xiamen
Osaka Kansai – Busan
Osaka Kansai – Hangzhou
Osaka Kansai – Hanoi
Osaka Kansai – Kuala Lumpur (Singapore – Kuala Lumpur tag cancelled)

The International cancellation sees total withdraw to Mexico City, Qingdao, Hangzhou and Xiamen.

*JAL’s Inventory display in GDS from 28MAR10 is currently showing Business Class seats bookable, economy class all Zero’d out. JAL is keeping Daily Vancouver service. (Currently 5 weekly Vancouver turn-around and 2 weekly extension to MEX)