Japan Airlines (JAL) plans to temporarily reduce its flight frequencies in Asia amidst the global financial crisis has provoked threats of a strike by staff.
The airline announced that it will cut outgoing flights from Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports starting July 1.
Routes that are affected:
• Tokyo Narita-Seoul cut from 28 a week to 21 between July 1 and October 24
• Tokyo Narita-Beijing cut from 19 roundtrip flights a week to 14 between August 1 and October 24
• Tokyo Narita-Taipei cut to 21 times weekly from 28 between July 1 and October 24
• Tokyo Narita-Shanghai cut to 21 times weekly from August 1 to October 24
• Tokyo Narita-New Delhi cut to thrice-weekly from four times weekly between August 1 and October 24
• Tokyo Haneda-Hongkong cut to thrice-weekly between September 1 and 17 and October 12 and 24
• Kansai-Seoul cut to 14 times weekly from August 1 to October 24
• Kansai-Shanghai reduced to 14 times weekly between August 1 and October 24
JAL has said that the number of flights will return to regular levels following the date periods stated above.
The announcement comes at a time when JAL faces a colossal staff strike. Four unions representing international pilots, flight attendants and ground staff have called for their members to go on strike for up to 72 hours starting today following a summer bonus dispute. JAL has maintained that a strike would not affect domestic and international traffic.
For more on JAL, visit www.jal.co.jp
Joshua Tan
