JAL, emerged from bankruptcy, takes more bullish profit outlook than ANA

Japan Airlines Corp (JAL) generated a solid profit results in the six months ended 30-Sep-2011 (1HFY2011) with an operating profit of JPY106.1 billion (USD1.4 billion) and a net profit of USD1.3 billion (JPY97.4 billion) on revenues of USD7.7 billion (JPY599.8 billion). The results were an encouraging sign for the carrier amid an intensified focus on improving cost efficiency and an aggressive scaling down of operations as part of its rigorous restructuring efforts.

JAL also upgraded its full year forecast to an operating profit of USD1.8 billion (JPY140 billion) which would mark the carrier's largest full-year operating profit in nearly a decade (since FY2003). The carrier is anticipating a net profit result of USD1.5 billion (JPY120 billion), considerably higher than its earlier forecast of JPY75.7 billion, as its restructuring efforts begin to yield results. While the carrier did not provide comparison to the previous years, the interim result accounted for around 76% of its targeted operating profit and 81% of the airline's targeted net profit.