TOKYO –
International flight bookings for Japan’s Obon vacation interval have misplaced momentum for the primary time for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic, with airways pointing to international uncertainty and the weak yen as elements discouraging abroad journey.
For the vacation interval from August 7 to August 16, All Nippon Airways has obtained reservations for about 240,000 worldwide seats, roughly unchanged from a yr earlier.
Japan Airlines Group, in the meantime, has booked about 190,000 worldwide seats, down round 10% from final yr.
The figures mark the primary slowdown within the upward development that had continued since 2021, when the aviation trade was nonetheless being closely affected by the pandemic. Airlines consider worldwide developments and the yen’s depreciation have weighed on demand.
Domestic flight reservations are broadly unchanged from final yr, with providers to Hokkaido and Okinawa proving notably common.
For ANA Group, the height day for outbound journey can be August 8, whereas the return journey peak is predicted on August 16. Japan Airlines Group expects each outbound and return visitors to peak on August 11.