Press Release
JAL Group Passenger Traffic Results for 2009 Golden Week Vacation Period
Tokyo May 8, 2009: Japan Airlines Group (JAL) announced the passenger traffic on international and domestic routes for the traditional Japanese "Golden Week" vacation, stretching this year from April 28 to May 6, 2009. The number of international passenger reservations was up by 3.9% while domestic passenger reservations were also up, by 0.8% relative to the same vacation period in 2008.
International
There were a total of 306,565 international passenger reservations made during the 9-day long vacation that is made up of a combination of public holidays and weekends. The seat load factor was 73.2%, up by 8.9 percentage points versus the load factor on flights during the Golden Week vacation period in spring 2008.
As a result of the lowered fuel surcharge on international flights out of Japan since the beginning of April 2009, passenger reservations to destinations in China, Hawaii and South East Asia during this period increased significantly by 20.4%, 12.5% and 9.5% respectively. Flights to Hawaii had the highest load factor of 84.8% even after a 5.8% increase in seat capacity. The outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) however, dampened travel demands to the American region and contrary to the initial forecast of an increase in travellers, passenger numbers declined 8.2% versus last year. Mitigated by the 15.1% reduction in seat capacity, JAL's transpacific flights still achieved a load factor of 72.8%.
The JAL Group operated 51 additional flights on international routes, including charter flights, to accommodate demand for travel to such destinations as Honolulu, Guam, South Korea, Palau, Bali and Saipan.
Domestic
JAL Group domestic passenger reservations totaled 1,063,066 during this Golden Week, 0.8% up on the same period last year. Together with the reduction in seat capacity by 2.5%, the seat load factor was an improved 66.2% compared to the figure of 64.1% last year.
The JAL Group also operated an additional 57 flights on domestic Japan routes to support the demand for travel to such areas as Okinawa (Naha), as well as Sapporo.
|
JAL Group International Reservations April 28, 2009 to May 6, 2009 |
||||
|
JAL/JAZ Routes |
Available Seat % Change on 2008 |
Passenger Total |
Passenger Total |
Seat load factor % |
|
+5.8 |
37,993 |
+12.5 |
84.8 |
|
|
Transpacific |
-15.1 |
22,183 |
-8.2 |
72.8 |
|
Europe |
-9.0 |
24,698 |
-4.8 |
68.4 |
|
S.E. Asia |
-6.4 |
75,329 |
+9.5 |
73.7 |
|
Oceania |
-46.1 |
6,178 |
-29.8 |
69.3 |
|
Guam/ Saipan |
+0.1 |
13,365 |
-7.7 |
77.9 |
|
Korea |
-1.0 |
51,271 |
+2.8 |
80.5 |
|
China |
-13.3 |
51,932 |
+20.4 |
64.5 |
|
Taiwan |
-15.6 |
23,616 |
-8.8 |
67.8 |
|
TOTAL |
-8.7 |
306,565 |
+3.9 |
73.2 |
(JAZ=JALways) ASK = Available Seat Kilometers
|
JAL Group Domestic Reservations April 28, 2009 to May 6, 2009 |
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|
|
Available Seat % Change on 2008 |
Passenger Total |
Passenger Total |
Seat load factor % |
|
JAL / JEX |
-2.9 |
936,865 |
+0.6 |
66.5 |
|
JTA |
-1.1 |
68,136 |
+2.8 |
67.9 |
|
RAC |
+4.4 |
8,493 |
+11.5 |
69.4 |
|
JAC |
+1.9 |
46,910 |
-0.6 |
59.7 |
|
HAC |
-8.8 |
2,662 |
-4.7 |
47.4 |
|
TOTAL |
-2.5 |
1,063,066 |
+0.8 |
66.2 |
(JEX=JAL Express; JTA=Japan Transocean Air; RAC=Ryukyu Air Commuter; JAC=Japan Air Commuter; HAC=Hokkaido Air System)
About Japan Airlines
The JAL Group is Asia’s biggest airline group in terms of sales revenues and 2nd largest in Asia in terms of passengers carried annually. JAL Group airlines serve 220 airports in 35 countries and territories, including 59 airports in Japan. The international network covers over 250 passenger routes and 28 cargo routes, and the domestic network covers 143 routes.
With around 23,000 employees in the air transport segment, JAL Group operates a fleet of some 270 aircraft including Boeing 747s and 777s and is now in the process of a major fleet renewal, introducing more fuel-efficient small and medium aircraft such as the B737 New Generation series and in the future the new high-tech Boeing 787 “Dreamliner”.
JAL First Class offers fully reclining Skysleeper or Skysleeper Solo seats. “JAL Executive Class - Seasons,” introduces the concept of “quality time” spent on board and features the award-winning JAL Shell Flat Seat that reclines to almost the horizontal and provides a high degree of personal privacy. From December 2007 JAL started offering JAL Premium Economy on key business routes, and from August 2008 started introducing on US routes a luxurious new suite to JAL First Class and the JAL Shell Flat NEO, a leading-edge seat for JAL Executive Class.
Top quality in-flight service has always been the hallmark of JAL’s reputation. Cuisine offered in all classes is a combination of Western and Japanese food. JAL carries a fine selection of award-winning wines and sake in First Class and JAL Executive Class - Seasons, JAL’s business class. Quality in-flight entertainment systems are a feature of JAL’s international fleet aircraft.
A member of the oneworld global alliance since April 2007, JAL offers customers many benefits, such as the JAL Mileage Bank frequent flier program.
Golden Week Results APR 2009.pdf