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Japan Airlines' international traffic slid around 20% in September and domestic traffic fell about 10% in the wake of natural disasters, its president said on Friday. The airline plans an update on the financial impact of a typhoon that damaged Osaka’s Kansai Airport and an earthquake in Hokkaido when it releases Q2 results at the end of this month, President Yuji Akasaka said. International passenger numbers are still down about 10% from normal levels, he said. In the domestic market where JAL is offering discounted fares in to encourage travel, leisure traffic remains weak although business traffic has returned to normal. “In terms of revenue we expect some effect on our numbers,” Akasaka said. Japan Airlines forecast in April a 4% drop in operating profit to 167b yen ($1.5b) for the financial year to end-March.<br/>

Malaysia Airlines is preparing to present its aircraft acquisition plan to its board, which could lead to a major widebody order being placed in 2019, airline CEO Izham Ismail said. The acquisition plan will be brought to the board by Q1 2019, Izham said. The board will likely consider the plan at either its November meeting, or in January. If board approval is granted, an order decision will likely be made between the first and third quarters of 2019, Izham said. This would likely allow MAB to meet its goal of receiving the first of the new widebodies in 2021. Izham noted that lessors have large aircraft backlogs if MAB cannot obtain its own delivery slots by that date. MAB is believed to be considering a range of aircraft including Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s. The carrier previously signed an MOU with Boeing for 787s, but the MOU lapsed in June. The airline is in the process of firming up its long-term network plan, and this will be an important factor in determining what aircraft models it selects, said Izham.<br/>