JAL forecasts passenger reservations for New Year Period

Japan Airlines (JAL) is forecasting a marginal decrease in the number of JAL Group airline passenger reservations for the Japanese “New Year’’ vacation period, from December 28, 2005 to January 9, 2006.

Currently, the total number of New Year JAL Group international passenger reservations is 290,525, 2% down on the same vacation period last year.

Passenger bookings on Transpacific, Korea, Southeast Asia and Oceania routes have increased: up respectively by 14.8%, 6.8%, 5.5% and 0.7% when compared to the same period last year.

The reduction in the number of JAL flights serving Honolulu and Guam, and the suspension of services to Saipan in October this year, account for the decrease in passenger traffic on JAL flights to Pacific tourist destinations.

Passenger traffic on Indonesia routes is slowly recovering, after a drop in demand resulting from the bombings in Bali in October this year.

Due to continuing concern resulting from anti-Japanese demonstrations in China earlier this year, JAL expects a 11% decrease in passenger traffic to China, compared to last year.

The forecast international seat load factor is 76.9%.

The total number of JAL Group domestic passenger reservations is 1,600,684 passenger reservations, 1.16% down on last year. JAL Group plans to operate an additional 74 flights to meet demand on popular domestic Japan routes.

At present the domestic Japan seat load factor forecast is 61.3%.

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