Rumor: JAL will keep flights to Brazil and 4 other routes

Yet another rumor. This time it is based on another rumor earlier saying JAL will suspend flights to Sao Paulo. Apparently Japan Airlines might have changed its mind and decided not to suspend Sao Paulo and some other routes.

According to Japan Today, the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics is what prompts JAL to reconsider its plan. JAL is expecting a robust travel demand to Brazil. So JAL might eventually keep JL047/048 from Narita to Sao Paulo via JFK, which is also currently the longest route in JAL network. Wouldn't it be a greater news to JAL if Tokyo has won the the 2016 Olympics bid :P

Four other international routes might also be safe from suspension. They are flights to rapidly emerging markets to Thailand, Indonesia and Taiwan (probably Nagoya – Bangkok, Osaka – Bangkok, Osaka – Denpasar, and Tokyo – Kaohsiung). JAL thinks they can turn into profit if they step up marketing.

Interestingly all of the five routes were originally planned to be suspended in fiscal year 2011-2012, which are the last set of routes to be eliminated in the rumored 50 suspensions. I guess JAL suspends them the last for a reason :)

Another point to note is this rumor actually contradict with the budget carrier code-sharing rumor. Thailand and Indonesia are considered resort routes. So who is telling the truth, if any?