JAPAN. Japan’s second largest carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA), said the number of passengers on its international flights fell -19.2% year-on-year to 1.456 million in the six months to September, due to the impact of the SARS outbreak and the Iraq War.
The number has since gradually recovered, “particularly on flights to North America,” the airline said in a statement.
In September, 302,465 passengers used ANA’s international flights, down -3.8% year-on-year but a major improvement on the -40.7% year-on-year drop in May.
“We expect the number of passengers on our international fights to recover to year-earlier levels by the end of this year, as long as there is no SARS outbreak this winter,” said the airline.
In related news, ANA has also announced the opening of a China division within its sales promotion department, dedicated to developing business in the growing China market.
“We foresee a continuation of the vigorous demand on all fronts of the transportation business: in business travel, leisure and cargo,” commented ANA’s ceo and president Yoji Ohashi.
The China division is an organic development in the restructuring of ANA, which has positioned China as one of its key growing markets.
The establishment of the new division comes in the wake of other developments in the business relationship between ANA and China, such as increased frequency on Chinese routes by thirteen flights per week and a connection service between ANA international flights and the domestic flights of Air China and Shanghai Airlines.
