JAL Group (JAL) estimates 405,778 passengers travelling on its international flights during the Japanese New Year vacation period

Tokyo, Japan, 2013-12-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — JAL Group (JAL) estimates a total of 405,778 passengers travelling on its international flights during the Japanese New Year vacation period from December 20, 2013 to January 5, 2014 based on current reservation figures. The total number of people travelling to and from Japan is expected to retain the same level compared with last year in spite of the number of available seats is 1.0% less than previous year.

Thanks to the longer vacation period this year, bookings indicate a higher demand on medium and long-haul routes like as Transpacific, Europe routes and routes to resort destinations. On short-haul routes, passenger demand is resuming on China routes but improving slowly on Korea routes. New cabin seats being introduced on Transpacific and Europe routes leads to their booking factor uplifted. As a result of above, the total passenger booking factor on international routes is expected to rise compared with previous year.

On the domestic routes, Passenger bookings now stand at 1,414,818, 14.1% higher than same period last year, while the number of available seats rises 3.6%. The overall booking factor for domestic JAL Group flights at present is 61.7% that is 6 percentage points higher than last year.

During 2014 New Year vacation period, JAL will operate 22 chartered flights to Alaska, Honolulu, Guam and Palau as well as 7 extra flights to Honolulu and 34 extra flights to Bangkok. Meanwhile, the airline plans to also operate 6 extra flights between Tokyo (Haneda) and Sapporo and 1 extra flight between Tokyo (Haneda) and Miyazaki.

JEX=JAL Express; JAIR=J Air; JTA=Japan Transocean Air; RAC=Ryukyu Air Commuter; JAC=Japan Air Commuter