International airlines are continuing to pare back flights to Japan as demand continues to slump following the tsunami tragedy.
Cathay Pacific has predicted “several months†of weak demand on Japan routes and will shave Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya services for two weeks starting tomorrow, April 1.
Qantas’s and its budget arm Jetstar will both reduce flights to Japan within the next six weeks.
Jetstar will suspend four weekly Japan services from April 1 until the end of August, while its Qantas carrier will halt Perth-Tokyo Narita flights from May 8.
Qantas yesterday warned of capacity and staff cuts in response to falling demand and high fuel costs
Qantas said the Christchurch earthquake last month wiped $15 million off the bottom line while the tremor and tsunami in Japan brought another $45 million hit.
“We didn’t cancel services but obviously the loads on those flights, especially going into Tokyo, did drop off quite significantly,” said a Qantas spokeswoman.
Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines and China Airlines have also curtailed capacity to Tokyo with JAL reporting a 25 percent drop in international passenger numbers through March 28.
Singapore Airlines has halted a daily flight to Haneda airport until May 8, according to a note on its website. The carrier also delayed the introduction of Airbus A380 superjumbos on flights to Los Angeles via Narita airport. It is using smaller aircraft on the route instead.
“The real question right now is what will happen to Japanese travellers? Will they hunker down and stay at home or continue to travel?†said Robert Bruce, an analyst at CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, quoted by AFP.
He predicted a six-month dip in demand.
