Japan Airlines seen posting higher H1 profit-Nikkei

TOKYO, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Japan Airlines Corp (JAL) (9205.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is expected to post a five-fold jump or more in half-year operating profit due to robust demand for its international flights and cost cuts, the Nikkei business daily said.

Operating profit at JAL, Asia's biggest airline by revenue, likely totalled 40 billion yen ($348.3 million) or more in April-September, up from 8.16 billion yen a year earlier, the Nikkei said on Saturday.

JAL, which reported an annual net loss for the past two years, has been cutting unprofitable routes and labour costs to put itself back on the growth path.

The company appears set to hit its full-year operating profit forecast of 35 billion yen although it is expected to face higher fuel costs and slower demand for domestic flights in the fiscal second half ending March 31, the newspaper said.

($1=114.84 Yen)