Saturday, August 23, 2014

JAL to terminate Narita – Okinawa.

Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) has released their Winter 2014/2015 timetable, effective October 26th, 2014 through March 28th, 2015. It includes axing of the once-daily Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA) – Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) service, which is mostly aimed at connecting passengers for their international flights to and from Narita.
Boeing 777-346 JA8945 moments before touchdown at Okinawa's Naha Airport. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Meanwhile, Japan's second largest carrier will adjust capacity on other routes during the winter months. Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) to Izumo (IZO/RJOC) and Kumamoto (KMJ/RJFT) will see frequency increases from five to six and eight to nine, respectively, while Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) to Amami (ASJ/RJKA), Izumo, Matsuyama (MYJ/RJOM), and Miyazaki (KMI/RJFM) will all see one of its flights being cut.

Frequency Increases (DOMESTIC):
Haneda – Izumo from 5 to 6 daily.
Haneda – Kumamoto from 8 to 9 daily.

Frequency Reductions (DOMESTIC):
Fukuoka – Amami from 2 to 1 daily.
Fukuoka – Izumo from 3 to 2 daily.
Fukuoka – Matsuyama from 6 to 5 daily.
Fukuoka – Miyazaki from 10 to 9 daily.

Suspensions (DOMESTIC):
Narita – Naha 1 daily.

Currently, the once-daily Narita – Naha service operates with a 261-seat (42 Class J and 219 economy) Boeing 767-300. Load factors for the route for April - June last year hovered around 40 - 50%, however, it recorded 22.2% (down 20.2% from last year) for April this year, 25.3% (down 24.5% from last year) for May, and 32.3% (down 25.5% from last year) for June. Competition with Narita-based LCCs Jetstar Japan (GK/JJP), in which JAL owns a minority stake, and Vanilla Air (JW/VNL) has significantly increased. JAL's international-connecting passengers will still be able to book the route as a code-share with Jetstar Japan, which operates up to four daily round-trips.

JAL's international plans for Winter 2014/2015, including the anticipated resumption of the Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) – Los Angeles (LAX/KLAX) route (JAL to resume Kansai – Los Angeles in Winter 2014/2015.), will be announced at a later date.

Reference: Japan Airlines, August 20th. (in Japanese)
Reference: Aviation Wire, August 20th. (in Japanese)

No comments:

Post a Comment