Major airlines in Japan say the number of passengers on domestic flights during the New Year holiday period rose by about 1 percent from a year earlier. The number of people traveling on international flights increased by around 10 percent.
Data released on Monday by 11 major carriers show that about 3.48 million passengers took domestic flights during the 10-day period from December 26 through Sunday.
During the same period, about 720,000 passengers flew into or out of Japan on international flights operated by seven airlines.
By destination, All Nippon Airways recorded a highest-ever number of passengers on its flights between Japan and Hawaii.
Japan Airlines also reported strong demand for flights between Japan and the United States, as well as Europe.
The airlines cited this season’s holiday calendar as a factor behind the increase in international passengers, as it allowed many workers to take up to nine consecutive days off. They also pointed to steady inbound tourism demand.
ANA said recent strains in relations between Japan and China did not appear to have a negative impact, noting that the number of passengers traveling to and from mainland China increased from a year earlier.
Meanwhile, JAL reported that the number of passengers on its flights between Japan and mainland China fell by about 20 percent from a year earlier.
AloJapan.com