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Gerald J. Arpey, Chairman and CEO, American Airlines, met with Japan’s Transport Minister Seiji Maehara on December 16. Aprey told at a news conference held later on the same day that it turned out a significant and solid discussion. Although Arpey declined to reveal any details of the meeting, he is said to have maintained during the meeting with the minister that American Airline’s offer is superior to that of any other rival in terms of assisting JAL’s turnaround and also of the positive effects visible for both parties.

During the news conference, CEO Arpey mentioned that the “open skies” treaty, fundamentally, is to promote fair competition among airlines, otherwise, it will lose its primary significance, arguing that should JAL join the SkyTeam airline group, the competition among the alliances would no longer be kept well-balanced. What is important for Japan Airlines is, Arpey continued, to look at its future with a long-term view, stating that JAL should expand its company network capitalizing on American Airlines’ dominant Latin American route while maintaining its existing network.

Source: Travel Vision

Travel Vision Inc. provides information on the travel industry in Japan via "Daily Travel Vision", a Japanese-language e-mail newsletter, and the "Travel Vision" website. There are nearly 110,000 people working in the Japanese travel industry, and Travel Vision is proud to be bringing travel news to more than 30,000 people through Daily Travel Vision.

Qatar Airways (QR) will launch daily Narita/Kansai/Doha service from April 26, 2010. The airline will switch the current Seoul/Kansai/Doha route to Narita/Kansai/Doha to serve exclusively between Japan and Qatar. The flight schedule is yet to be finalized, but Qatar Airways will become the only carrier in the Middle East to operate daily out of Narita. Aircraft to be put into service is Airbus A330, currently flown on its Kansai/Doha route, is configured either for a 2-class with 22 Business and 236 Economy class seats or for a 3-class with 8 First, 24 Business and 200 Economy class seats.

Commenting on the reason for selecting the routing via Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, Qatar Airways’ Japan office said that due to the arrival and departure slot available for the airline at Narita International Airport a Narita/Doha direct flight would otherwise give its transit passengers a long waiting time at Doha International Airport for onward connections. Qatar Airways will continue its code-sharing with All Nippon Airways and aims to further boost sales in Japan, added the airline’s Japan office

Qatar Airways meanwhile revealed that it is planning to start new services to Bangalore in India from February 22 and to Ankara in Turkey as well from April 15, 2010.

Source: Travel Vision

Travel Vision Inc. provides information on the travel industry in Japan via "Daily Travel Vision", a Japanese-language e-mail newsletter, and the "Travel Vision" website. There are nearly 110,000 people working in the Japanese travel industry, and Travel Vision is proud to be bringing travel news to more than 30,000 people through Daily Travel Vision.