Japan Airlines’ smaller gains from Tokyo Haneda slot dispersal dampen its short-term outlook

The short-term outlook at Japan Airlines is partially dampened by JAL receiving only five international slots at Tokyo Haneda to rival All Nippon Airways' much larger gain of 11. JAL had been banking on international flights at Haneda, which are more convenient than those out of Narita, to supply medium-term growth.

However, long-haul growth opportunities remain, and JAL can likely still meet its medium-term targets as it pursues expansion of Narita. The focus on the Haneda slot dispersal was Europe and regional Asian destinations. Only one North American slot was awarded (to ANA for a Canadian service), meaning there is little tipping of the scales between ANA and JAL in their main long-haul market.

JAL has allocated four of its five Haneda slots; the fifth, to China, remains subject to slot negotiations. All four of JAL's new Haneda services come at the expense of existing flights at Narita. This however was a similar outcome as at ANA, which also used Haneda slots largely to replace existing Narita services. While the Haneda slots are important, they have failed to live up to the hype ANA and JAL placed on them, at least in generating new route options.