SECTION 2. IMPROVlNG AIRLlNE SERVICE
1 Developing Japan's Air Transportation
In Japan, 68.69 million passengers flew on domestic flights, a steady increase
over the year before. The passengers on international flights totaled 34.15 million,
indicating recovery from the influence of the gulf war but first and business
class passengers failed to rise. Freight transport also declined.
The recurrent profits for the, three large airline companies (Japan Airlines,
All Nippon Airways and Japan Air Systems) decreased by 65% compared to the previous
year.
As competition promotion policy, regarding domestic airlines, double/triple
tracking mainly of mostly popular routes in great demand, and for international
airlines, the continued creation of competition companies for the increased convenience
of users have been devised. And to further promote competition among the airlines,
in October 1992 the revaluation of standards regarding routes suitable for double
and triple tracking was carried out and their scope expanded.
As for regional air transport, regarding isolated island flights, the Ministry
of Transport continues to study policies necessary for their maintenance. At the
same time, regarding other regional aviation, the forming of regional networks
by way of local originality and inventiveness is being planned.
2 Promoting the "New International Air Fares Policy"
Recently, airline users are highly aware of price disparities, so international
air fares must appropriately respond to the demands of users. As specific policies,
the implementation of new economy class fares and group inclusive travel fares
(GIT fares), discounting of particular excursion fares (PEX fares) etc., implementation
of a zone system connected with special fares of international air passenger fares,
the implementation of the wide fare system that is related to international air
freight rates etc. are to be carried out. (Fig
47)
3 Promoting the "New International Aviation Policy"
Various policies are being developed in response to the intensifying competition
between airline companies due to increase in international aviation demand and
deregulation.
In response to diversifying passenger demand, the development of direct routes,
formation of excursion type networks and expansion of international airline networks
are being carried out. And in response to the supply increase due to the relaxation
in the near future of airport regulations in the large cities, to ensure diversified
supply power, the implementation of the method whereby business is carried out
by consigning flight-operations to foreign airline companies was approved.
As short-distance international aviation policy- responding to the predilection
for direct flights from regional airports to destinations, the internationalization
of regional airports is becoming important. For this purpose the opening of regular
international routes, and the pioneering of regional travel demand by using chartered
flights are to be promoted.
4 Unfolding the "Sky Day" and "Sky Campaign" Projects
In marking the 40th anniversary of the resuming of civil aviation in 1992,
and hoping for further safrty and growth of aviation in the future, commemorative
projects are to be unfolded all over the country.
