Major Japanese airlines report record sales highs for end-2024

Japanese flag-carrier Japan Airlines Co and ANA Holdings Inc both posted significantly higher sales throughout the later three quarters of 2024.

The two airlines’ record highs may be attributed to stronger inbound tourism demand throughout the past year.

Both JAL and ANA posted significant rises in revenue from international flights.

The airlines also noted that their domestic flights also fared well in 2024, boosted by a greater demand for leisure activities throughout the country.

JAL’s performance in 2024

In its most recent earnings report, JAL stated that the number of passengers on domestic flights for the three months from October was higher from the same period a year before, thanks to its campaigning efforts to boost demand.

The airline, however, left its full-year forecast unchanged, expecting a net profit of 100 billion yen on sales of 1.93 trillion yen.

JAL likewise posted a net profit of 91.05 billion yen in the April-December period, up 6.0 percent from a year earlier. 

Sales rose 10.9 percent to 1.39 trillion yen, the highest level for the period since the company relisted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2012.

ANA’s performance in 2024

On the other hand, ANA sales grew by 10.3 percent to 1.70 trillion yen.

According to the airline’s year-end report, it lifted its net profit forecast for the year ending March to 140 billion yen, from an earlier projection of 120 billion yen.

Annual sales are now forecast at 2.26 trillion yen, compared with a previous estimate of 2.22 trillion yen.

However, its net profit fell by ten percent to 134.03 billion yen, the drop triggered by the way the weaker yen drove up operational costs.