IATA: Japan Airlines' President Targets ATI With European Partners
June 05 2011 - 12:01AM
Dow Jones News
The head of Japan Airlines Co. Ltd said Sunday that he wants to
start pursuing antitrust immunity with its European alliance
partners to complement a new enhanced pact with American
Airlines.
Masaru Onishi, the airline's president, also said in an
interview that premium and outbound leisure traffic is recovering
well following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, but JAL faces a
tougher haul to reinvigorate inbound tourism from Europe and North
America.
JAL launched its immunized joint venture with American, a unit
of AMR Corp. (AMR), earlier this year, with the airlines allowed to
coordinate schedules, fares and marketing. The next step will be to
pursue similar links with its European partners in the Oneworld
alliance, notably the British Airways unit of International
Consolidated Airlines Group SA (IAG.LN).
"I would like to start preparations soon," said Onishi in an
interview at the start of the annual meeting of the International
Air Transport Association, the industry's global trade group.
Rival All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd (9202.TO) and Deutsche
Lufthansa AG (DLA.XE) last week became the first carriers to
receive antitrust immunity to coordinate services between Europe
and Asia. Members of the three global alliances--Oneworld, Star and
SkyTeam--already have immunity on a range of trans-Atlantic and
trans-Pacific flights.
JAL cut capacity during its bankruptcy restructuring, and the
alliance links are seen by Onishi as a key way to expand its
network.
Organic growth will include routes started with the 787-8s due
to arrive--some three years late--from Boeing Co. (BA). Onishi said
JAL expects to receive two or three of the aircraft this year.
The airline has identified its first 787 route, with flights
from Tokyo to Boston expected to start next April. However, other
787 services are expected to precede the Boston route, and Onishi
said he didn't expect any problems with certification of the
aircraft.
All Nippon, the 787 launch customer, is expected to receive the
first one from Boeing in July or August.
JAL and All Nippon have both been expanding international
service from Tokyo's downtown Haneda airport following the opening
of a new runway last year. Onishi said there had been some transfer
of traffic from Narita--until recently the city's sole
international gateway--but he said he was confident Haneda's
location would help generate additional business.
JAL's traffic during the recent Golden Week holiday was above
expectations, though international passenger numbers were down 31%
year on year and domestic business fell by a quarter.
Onishi said forward premium bookings were in line with last year
and outbound leisure traffic was in line with expectations. But
while inbound tourist traffic from Asia was recovering, he said
stimulating demand from Europe and the U.S. was going to be "very
difficult."
-By Doug Cameron, Dow Jones Newswires; 312-731-6910;
doug.cameron@dowjones.com
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