ANA gains JAL’s market share on cargo

WITH Japan Airlines (JAL) distancing itself from air cargo, All Nippon Airways (ANA) is moving in to exploit the vacuum.

Since JAL filed for bankruptcy in January it has announced that it will solely use belly capacity instead of running freighters from the end of October. Its international cargo volume fell 7.2 per cent to 46,006 tons in June while ANA’s rose for the 10th successive month, up 36.6 per cent to 38,645 tons.

Domestically, JAL’s cargo volume rose two per cent in June to 36,313 tons, but ANA overtook it following the seventh straight month growth, taking it up 4.6 per cent in June to 37,300 tons.

ANA said: “With reduced freight capacity due to downsizing of aircraft and the effects of sluggish demand for perishable cargo and home delivery parcel services, domestic cargo volumes slightly fell below those of the previous year. However international cargo volumes rose with growth in Chinese domestic market demand driven by the implementation of economic stimulus measures, as well as a rise in shipment demand of plasma display and semiconductor-related materials in Taipei and Seoul. Transport saw positive growth, primarily on Asian routes, and volumes in the period increased significantly versus last year.”

JAL’s reorganisation has seen it merge four of its subsidiary sales companies – JAL Sales, JAL Sales Hokkaido, JAL Sales West Japan and JAL Sales Kyushu – effective 1 October. The merged entity will be named JAL Sales.

In addition, JAL has sold sell 90 per cent of its stake in JAL Sky Kansai, while JAL Ground Service in turn sold 90 per cent of its stake in both JAL Ground Service Kansai and JAL Ground Support Kansai to Konoike Transport.