Japan's JAL, ANA see volumes slump further in January

JAPAN's two largest airlines saw their international cargo volume plummet in January as global demand slumped further.

Japan Airlines (JAL) said that its international cargo volume declined for six straight months ending in January on a year on year basis, dropping 41.5 per cent to 32,639 tons. The pace of decline quickened from the previous month's 38.5 per cent.

During the first 10 months of fiscal 2008, which started in April 2008, JAL transported a total of 552,793 tons of cargo on international routes, down 13.9 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier, reports the Journal of Commerce Online.

On the other hand, JAL's domestic cargo volume continued to rise in January, with the carrier transporting 32,962 tons of cargo on domestic routes, up 7.5 per cent from the previous year, and bringing the total volume of its domestic cargo during the first 10 months of fiscal 2008 to 428,877 tons, up 13.2 per cent against the same period in fiscal 2007.

Japan's second-largest air carrier All Nippon Airways said that its international cargo volume declined for the third consecutive month in January on a year-on-year basis.

ANA transported 19,885 tons of cargo on international routes in January, down 25.1 per cent.

During the first 10 months of fiscal 2008, ANA transported a total of 283,035 tons of international cargo, up 3.2 per cent from the same period in fiscal 2007.

On domestic routes, ANA transported 31,661 tons of cargo in January, down 4.9 per cent, bringing the total volume of its domestic cargo during the first 10 months of fiscal 2008 to 389,607 tons, up 2.9 per cent against 2007.

Source: Transportweekly