JAL to suspend freighter flights after 51 years in all-cargo arena

[NM]

From ATW Daily News:

Japan Airlines announced yesterday that it will ground its freighter fleet after more than half a century of operations and continue its cargo business "solely" through utilizing belly space on its passenger flights.

 

[Mal]

Things must be pretty bad if they can't make any money out of cargo-only flights. I wonder what the real story is - old planes? Unionised workforce? Freight loads still not picking up etc etc.

 

[drron]

This was always in their plans for reconstruction.

 

[samh004]

Whatever will return them to profitability, especially if it helps keep them flying premium routes…

 

[serfty]

This brings back memories of standing at the Northern end of ANC runway 32 on afternoon and watching 5 JAL 747 cargo aircraft take off, one after the other.

Indications were they were mainly loaded with live Crab, heading for Japan and it's seafood markets ...