Japan Air Cutting 16 Routes

November 6, 2009

By BETTINA WASSENER

HONG KONG — Japan Airlines on Thursday announced it would scrap flights on 16 international and domestic routes, the latest of several such revisions meant to help the ailing carrier back to profitability.

JAL, the largest Japanese airline, has been reeling from plunging revenues and years of lax management. Burdened with debt, and with no prospect of a major revival in passenger numbers any time soon, the carrier is now seeking a government bailout.

JAL is cutting thousands of jobs and has announced several revisions to flight frequencies in recent months in a bid to become more efficient.

On Thursday, the carrier said it would end service on eight international routes, including a twice-weekly route connecting Narita airport outside Tokyo with Vancouver and Mexico City.

It is also ending eight domestic routes, as well as one international cargo route, and closing its offices in Kobe, Japan; in Mexico City; and in the Chinese cities of Hangzhou, Qingdao and Xiamen.

JAL is also reducing the frequency of its flights to London and Taipei from Narita.

In total, the latest measures — the result of what the airline called “a bold review of underperforming routes” — will cut 61 international return flights, 91 domestic return flights and 3 cargo flights per week.