Japanese Air Cargo Slump Eases

Japan's two largest airlines saw the deep slump in their international cargo operations ease in July, their monthly reports show, amid growing hopes for a global economic recovery.

Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) both saw their international cargo volume fall in July on a year-on-year basis. But the pace of decline in July was the second-slowest for JAL and the slowest for ANA in nine months. ANA's international cargo volume recovered to a level only 1.4 percent lower than a year earlier.

JAL, Asia's biggest air carrier, said that its international cargo volume declined for the 12th consecutive month in July on a year-on-year basis, plunging 20 percent to 52,079 tons. The pace of decline slightly quickened from 19.7 percent in June but was the second-slowest since last October, when it fell 12.7 percent.

During the first four months of fiscal 2009, which started in April, JAL transported a total of 189,688 tons of cargo on international routes, down 22.5 percent from the same period of last year.

JAL also saw the volume of its domestic cargo decline for four months in a row in July on a year-on-year basis, falling 4.1 percent to 43,486 tons. The July decline followed drops of 10.8 percent in April, 11 percent in May and 9 percent in June.

During the April-July period, JAL transported a total of 150,745 tons of cargo on domestic routes, down 8.6 percent from a year earlier.

Meanwhile, ANA, Japan's second-largest air carrier, said that its international cargo volume declined for the ninth successive month in July on a year-on-year basis.

ANA transported 30,238 tons of cargo on international routes in July, down 1.4 percent. The pace of decline continued to slow, from 4.9 percent in June, and was the slowest since the airline's international cargo volume rose 6.5 percent last October.

During the April-July period, ANA transported a total of 109,539 tons of cargo on international routes, down 9.2 percent from a year earlier.

ANA's domestic cargo volume rose for the first time in four months in July on a year-on-year basis, increasing 2.3 percent to 41,151 tons. The July increase followed drops of 4.9 percent in April, 6.6 percent in May and 1 percent in June.

During the April-July period, ANA transported a total of 147,575 tons of cargo on domestic routes, down 2.5 percent from a year earlier.