JAL Tokyo-to-Las Vegas Flights Are Suspended

Japan Airlines will suspend nonstop flights from Tokyo to Las Vegas effective Thursday because of weak travel demand following last month’s terrorist attacks.

“JAL likes this route, it’s eager to hold on to this route, so we’re optimistic about the future,” Irene Jackson, spokeswoman for the airline in New York, said.

Jackson said there were hopes the flights would only be suspended until Feb. 1.

Along with suspending four flights a week to Las Vegas, JAL is changing its winter schedule with reductions, suspensions and rerouting of flights to Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Honolulu, as well as other international destinations.

Based on the original operation plans for the period from October through March, the changes represent an overall reduction of 5% in JAL frequency and 6% in seat capacity.

Japan sent 511,000 visitors to Las Vegas in 2000, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The tourism agency’s visitor profile showed 13% of last year’s 35.8 million visitors were foreigners, including 3% who were of Asian or Asian American ethnicity.

JAL initiated Tokyo-to-Las Vegas service in October 1998, shortly after Northwest Airlines started the first regularly scheduled flights from Tokyo to Las Vegas.

Between the two airlines, service from Japan eventually reached eight times a week.

Northwest left the market earlier this year.