Japanese Executives Avoid U.S. Airlines
Several Japanese companies, with operations in Orange County, say they are avoiding U.S. airlines for business travel in the wake of Sept. 11.
The companies, which asked not to be cited because of the sensitivity of the issue, include household names in electronics, computer products, office equipment and industrial goods.
“The American public feels a strong sense of patriotism, and we do not want to offend them,” said one Japanese executive.
Tokyo-based journalist Toshiya Miyazaki said the scene of jets slamming into the World Trade Center remains strongly etched in the minds of many Japanese executives.
“The Japanese think American commercial airlines are in danger,” he said.
Risk-shy Japanese executives say they are taking extra steps in the wake of the terrorist attacks. That played out on a recent business trip to Japan for the president of one company with OC operations.
“Just in case, I chose Japan Airlines over my favorite, United Airlines,” he said.
The executive said he believed U.S. airlines have more of a chance of being targeted by terrorists. The JAL flight he took was full, he said.
But the avoidance of U.S. airlines is inconvenient, Japanese executives said. Last month, a manager at a big Japanese electronics maker came to Irvine to begin a three- to five-year stint at the company’s OC operation.
“Personally I wanted to take a Northwest flight because it arrives at Los Angeles International airport earlier than JAL,” he said.
But, the manager said he took a JAL flight after some “kind” advice from his employer.
Japanese companies say their people are traveling less anyway. Companies have restricted travel in the wake of the attacks,something one executive said makes doing business harder.
“There is a big difference between face-to-face conversations and e-mail-only negotiations,” he said.
One Japanese executive who felt comfortable talking about the issue said he’s not sure how safe Japanese airlines are in the wake of the attacks.
JAL and All Nippon Airways flights “could be a target of terrorist attacks because the Japanese government is supporting the U.S. retaliatory strikes,” said Teruaki Kawaguchi, vice president of Sumitomo Electric USA Inc. in Torrance.
Whenever the U.S. wages a war, people regardless of their nationality try to shun U.S. airlines, Kawaguchi said. n
