Both airlines do not rule out further collaboration in future, including with competitors.
Japan’s two largest carriers will coordinate their schedules on the Tokyo Haneda-Okayama domestic route, as part of a broader move to maintaining a “sustainable” domestic network.
In separate statements, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) say they will adjust their flight timing – but keep their daily frequencies – on the route from the Northern Winter period, which starts in late-October. Both carriers operate five daily flights between the two points.
ANA states: “This will further enhance air travel convenience, meet diverse customer needs, and improve overall profitability.”
The schedule coordination is backed by the Japanese government guidelines, which include antitrust exemptions. Tokyo in May 2025 also set up an expert panel to address the challenges facing Japan’s domestic air network and to reform operations.
Both JAL and ANA have flagged challenging domestic market conditions, including “structural shifts in demand” and a shrinking population.
Following the rollout of the Tokyo-Okayama schedule collaboration, both ANA and JAL say they will not rule out further coordination, including with domestic competitors.
“With a view to building a sustainable domestic network , JAL will continue discussions with relevant parties considering various options, including frequency adjustments and route coordination such as codeshare arrangements with other airlines,” JAL states.
Meanwhile, ANA says it will “explore deeper cooperation among competitors”, including potential “carrier consolidation” highlighted by the government panel.
In its recent first quarter earnings, ANA revealed its medium-term plans for its domestic operations. These include “optimising” pricing and domestic schedules.
It also signed an ACMI deal with codeshare partner IBEX, with the latter to operate eight newly-ordered Embraer 190-E2s on domestic routes on behalf of ANA from 2029.
For the upcoming Northern Winter season, ANA says it intends to boost its domestic frequencies by 1% compared to the same period last year. During the peak January-March period, the Star Alliance operator says it will increase and roll out seasonal flights from Tokyo Narita airport to capture transit demand from international flights.
JAL, meanwhile, will ramp up flights on two domestic trunk routes – Tokyo Haneda to Fukuoka and Okinawa – during the Northern Winter period. Flights out of Osaka Itami will also be increased, with a focus on Hokkaido and Okinawa regions.
The post ANA, JAL to start schedule coordination as part of domestic network reforms first appeared on FlightGlobal.