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Japan Airlines (Jal) and rival All Nippon Airways (ANA) both reported a rise in profits in the first three quarters of last year.
Jal saw net profits rise by 24% to 143.6 billion yen while ANA achieved a 40% increase to 73.3 billion yen.
Both carriers were assisted by a jump in international travellers to Japan in 2015 – estimated by Jal to be up by 47.1% to 19.7 million over the same nine month period the previous year.
However, Jal’s international passenger revenue remained pegged at 345.9 billion yen despite “robust demand” from inbound travellers, especially from North America, China and Southeast Asia.
Domestic revenue was up by 11.1% to 384.1 billion yen in the April to December period as the airline reported a moderate recovery in Japan’s economy with robust consumer spending.
ANA’s international network expansion helped capture more travellers using Japan to transit between North America and Asia.
However ANA said: “Demand on certain European routes showed some reduction following the terrorist attacks in Paris in November.”
A dual-hub airport strategy, operating flights out of both Narita and Haneda airports in Tokyo, also continued to make “good progress” as the carrier strengthened the position of each as international hubs.