business

Air ticket sales from U.S. to Japan remain weak

4 Comments

ARC announced Friday that after comparing more than 3 million air ticket transactions for travel from the United States to Japan, the volume remains below historical levels since the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011. But forward-looking departure data shows that this travel market may be poised for a recovery in 2012.

ARC examined ticket transactions for U.S. air departures to Japan from Jan 1, 2009 to Feb. 29, 2012. Among its findings were:

-- Ticket refunds as a percentage of total transactions spiked at 23.4% in March 2011 and 12.9% in April 2011 immediately after the natural disaster, compared to average refund rates (excluding these months) of 4.5%.

-- After the earthquake and tsunami, ticket sales began to slip into April 2011, when transactions finished at 32% below 2010 and 38% below 2009 levels.

-- For the remainder of 2011 following March, sales and departures have remained below both 2009 and 2010, but followed traditional seasonal trends seen throughout the examined time period.

-- For January to February 2012, sales moved in an upward direction, surpassing 2009 levels by 3% and 7% respectively.

-- Future departures from the United States to Japan for March through June 2012 seem to indicate a developing recovery: March and April 2012 departures are ahead of 2009, while May and June 2012 departures exceed all years for the same periods in 2009 through 2011.

"We've been closely following ticketing transactions to Japan since the tragic events in 2011 to see when the volume would return to its normal level," said Chuck Thackston, managing director of data and analytics at ARC. "Although we did not see that happen in the later part of last year, we are cautiously optimistic that recovery is beginning based on the first two months of this year. ARC will continue to monitor this trend as we move into the second fiscal quarter."

© PR Newswire

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

4 Comments
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There also may be an additional factor of... airfare prices. The high prices plus the strong yen can't help.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Kwaabish, exactly. Thumbs up!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Get rid of the fuel tax! That'll knock off at least $300! Or lower it!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A lot of us in the US keep current with news of Japan and certainly know about the radiation problems from Fukushima. We're very sympathetic to the Japanese people but not motivated to visit Japan right now.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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