TOKYO: Japan Airlines said Wednesday it will suspend its hiring activities for new graduates for fiscal 2021, which starts next April.

The major Japanese carrier said it needs to review its recruitment plan as the business environment is deteriorating rapidly due to the fallout of the new coronavirus outbreak.

Among domestic peers, ANA Holdings Inc., the parent of All Nippon Airways, and Skymark Airlines have also suspended their recruiting activities.

In fiscal 2021, JAL was slated to newly employ a total of some 1,700 people, including as flight attendants, for the entire group.

The airline will not cancel informal job offers it has already given to some 150 people. The company will continue recruiting activities for some 80 pilot candidates and procedures for hiring people with disabilities.

JAL recorded a consolidated net loss of 22.9 billion yen in January-March as travel demand fell sharply due to people refraining from going out, as well as entry and departure restrictions imposed by many countries, amid the pandemic.

The virus crisis has forced JAL to suspend about 70 percent of its domestic flights and more than 90 percent of its international flights.

The Japanese government fully lifted its state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak on Monday. But it is unclear to what extent demand for air travel will recover.

Especially, demand for international flights is expected to remain very sluggish.

JIJI Press