By Frank Cho
Advertiser Staff Writer
Japan Airlines said yesterday that it plans to expand air service to Hawai‘i over the next two years, citing strong demand.
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| A Japan Airlines spokesman said Hawai‘i is the carrier’s "No. 1 tourist destination."
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser |
The Tokyo-based carrier did not release details, but said plans to add a second runway at Narita International next year will allow it to add the additional flights.
Japan Airlines is the biggest carrier between Japan and Hawai‘i, with more than 84 weekly flights — 25 percent of which arrive from Narita.
"We think the demand is there. Hawai‘i is our No. 1 tourist destination," said Geoffrey Tudor, a spokesman for the airline.
But the overall increase in flights may only counter plans by U.S. carriers, namely Northwest and United Airlines, to cut back their Japan-Hawai‘i routes for more direct Mainland-Japan service, said Gilbert Kimura, Japan Airlines’ regional sales manager in Hawai‘i.
Japan Airlines already serves the Big Island directly and is awaiting approval to add direct flights to Maui, Kimura said.
"There are a lot of Japanese who want to come to Hawai‘i, so these routes will probably not be for anything beyond Japan," said Kimura.
JAL’s total number of overseas flights probably will rise by 20 percent to 30 percent next year, with the biggest increases in service to Southeast Asia, the airline said.
The company, which is trying to cut costs, said it plans to slash 4,200 jobs. In its midterm plan, which runs through March 2004, the company said it will look at cutting 4,200 ground staff by March 2003, down from the 9,000 it employed worldwide as of March 2000.
Kimura said none of the cuts are expected in Hawai‘i.
"This is for the long-term competitiveness of JAL," said Satoshi Abe, an analyst at Daiwa Institute of Research, who rates the airline’s stock "neutral."
"There was some concern about the slowdown in the restructuring for JAL, which hasn’t improved in the last two years," he said.
Japan Airlines is likely to face a slowdown in growth this year as regional economies slow, crimping demand for air cargo and passenger travel.
Frank Cho can be reached by phone at 525-8088, or by e-mail at fcho@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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