Yamato Holdings and Japan Airlines announced that they will end domestic freighter operations by June 2027. The decision comes as air transport costs continue to rise due to the weaker yen and higher fuel prices, widening the price gap with trucking.
The Yamato Group, the JAL Group and SJO plan to end operations of their domestic freighters, which began operating in April 2024, by June 2027. The timing may differ by route, but the companies decided to make greater use of alternative transport methods.
The freighters, A321P2F aircraft converted from A321ceo aircraft, have been operated with a capacity of 28 tonnes of cargo per aircraft. The Yamato Group introduced 3 aircraft under lease, while the JAL Group operates them to transport cargo, including cargo carried in the bellies of passenger aircraft.
Costs have risen due to the weaker yen and higher fuel prices, causing the price gap with trucking to widen beyond initial assumptions. Going forward, the companies plan to use alternative transport through route reviews, better balancing of supply and demand, and the development of higher-value-added services.
The background includes growth in the e-commerce market, a shortage of truck drivers resulting from the declining and aging working population, and the revised regulations on long working hours introduced in 2024. The companies had been considering introducing freighters since the early 2020s. For current users, they will continue using the bellies of passenger aircraft while facilitating a shift to alternative transport methods.