Japan Airlines’ international capacity outstrips demand: official

JAPAN Airlines (JAL) is operating at 65 per cent of its international capacity before the coronavirus pandemic, although Covid-19 curbs are limiting demand to just about 40 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, an airline executive said on Tuesday (Sep 13).

In the domestic market, the airline is operating at 100 per cent of its pre-pandemic capacity, though demand is about 80 per cent of corresponding levels, said Akihide Yoguchi, JAL’s vice-president of strategy research for the Asia Oceania region.

“Demand for domestic has recovered faster than international, like many other markets,” he said at a CAPA Centre for Aviation conference.

Japan’s international travel demand has been hampered by the need for tourists to obtain visas and travel agency bookings as well a daily cap on inbound traveller numbers.

Japan’s government is planning to waive tourist visa requirements from some countries as part of a further easing of border controls, Fuji News Network (FNN) reported on Monday.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may decide as early as this week on the easing, which would also allow travellers to visit Japan without using a travel agency, FNN reported.

SEE ALSO

Japan plans to scrap daily arrival cap by October: Nikkei

DECODING ASIA

Navigate Asia in
a new global order

Get the insights delivered to your inbox.

Japan did not require tourist visas for 68 countries and regions before the pandemic.  REUTERS