February 16, 2010 — Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways saw their international cargo volume surge in December on a year-on-year basis, according to figures released by the two biggest Japanese air carriers.

Improvement in the Japanese airlines' international cargo operations does not yet indicate a full-fledged recovery, as the December figures compare with extremely low levels posted in December 2008 amid the deep global economic crisis.

After falling for 15 months in a row, JAL's international cargo volume grew for the second consecutive month in December on a year-on-year basis, rising 29.9 percent to 52,884 tons. The year-on-year pace of growth quickened from 9.1 percent in November.

During the first nine months of fiscal 2009, which started in April, JAL transported a total of 454,585 tons of cargo on international routes, down 12.6 percent from the same period of the previous fiscal year.

JAL saw the volume of its domestic cargo decline for nine months in a row in December on a year-on-year basis, falling 5.4 percent to 51,380 tons. But the year-on-year pace of decline slowed from 7.3 percent in November and was the slowest in five months.

During the April-December period, JAL transported a total of 365,120 tons of cargo on domestic routes, down 7.8 percent from a year earlier.

JAL filed for bankruptcy protection on Jan.19, marking one of the biggest corporate failures in Japanese history, and is in the process of rehabilitating itself under a state-backed plan.

ANA's international cargo volume grew for the fourth consecutive month in December on a year-on-year basis, rising a whopping 73 percent to 38,281 tons.

ANA's international cargo volume had increased 3.7 percent in September -- the first year-on-year growth in 11 months -- 7.5 percent in October and 36.7 percent in November.

During the first nine months of fiscal 2009, ANA transported a total of 280,500 tons of cargo on international routes, up 6.6 percent from the same period of the previous fiscal year.

But ANA's domestic cargo volume fell for five months in succession in December on a year-on-year basis, edging down 0.1 percent to 47,274 tons. During the April-December period, ANA transported a total of 347,202 tons of cargo on domestic routes, down 3 percent from a year earlier.


Source: Hisane Masaki