Japan Air Lines will discontinue three weekly freighter flights between Tokyo and London next month as it reviews its cargo network in response to declining traffic.
The Tokyo Narita-London Heathrow flights, via Amsterdam, will end Oct. 25, and cargo on the route will go in the belly space available on two daily 777 passenger services.
JAL said it will also re-route its three-times-weekly Tokyo Narita-Frankfurt freighter flights via Amsterdam Schiphol airport.
Asia’s largest airline said it is still reviewing its cargo and passenger network and “is prepared to respond with further amendments to routes, fleet and flight frequencies in efforts to maximize profitability while maintaining high standards of service to our customers.”
JAL also is seeking government approval to increase cargo fuel surcharges on international shipments from Japan on Oct. 1. It plans to raise the surcharge on services to long haul destinations including Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa from 65 cents to 73 cents per kilo.
JAL’s international cargo traffic fell 20 percent in July from a year ago to 52,079 tonnes, the second slowest rate of decline in nine months.
In an attempt to stem cargo losses, which totalled $210 million in the year ended March 31, the carrier recently announced plans to merge its freight operation with Nippon Cargo Airlines, a unit of Japanese ship-owner NYK.
JAL is currently in negotiations with Delta Air Lines and American Airlines which are competing to invest in the Japanese carrier and form an operational alliance.
The Journal of Commerce Online
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