JAL Group releases Traffic Forecast for 2005 Summer Vacation Period

Japan Airlines Group today released projected figures for international and domestic traffic for the Japanese summer vacation period, stretching this year from July 22 to August 21.

Total international passenger reservations during the 31-day period, currently stand at 653,541, are 3.6% less than the same vacation period last year. The forecast seat load factor is 69.3%. (Based on the combined reservations of JAL, JALways and Japan Asia Airways).

Bookings on transpacific routes to North America are 6.7% up on last year. Projected load factors on routes from Japan to Hawaii, the mainland USA and Oceania are at high levels: 83.6%, 97.9% and 91% respectively. On the other hand, bookings to beach resort destinations in Southeast Asia via Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur are lower than last year, influenced by the airline says by the December 2004 Tsunami. Reservations on China routes are also down on the same period and reflect the airline believes the impact of anti-Japanese demonstrations earlier this year. 

JAL will operate 34 extra flights on resort routes and will make a total of 152 tourist charter flights, including some to new destinations such as Prague, St. Petersburg and Alice Springs, Australia.

JAL Group domestic summer vacation passenger reservations total 4,207,059, 1.2% lower than last year’s traffic result. However domestic seat supply is 2.7% lower than the same period last year. The JAL Group plans to operate an additional 144 flights on domestic Japan routes to key vacation destinations. At present the domestic Japan seat load factor forecast is 67.3%.

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