April 4- Al Nippon Airways (ANA), said it is returning to profitability because of an increase in travel, especially in the high-margin business class segment.  ANA, which is Japan’s second biggest airline by revenue, will probably post a 693 million (Dh2.5 billion) loss for the financial year ended March 31st, 2010.  The airline’s president, Schinichirio Ito, said it is considering launching a low cost carrier. 

ANA, like many other airlines, suffered the effects of the economic downturn and outbreak of H1N1 swine flu.  However, it expects business passenger growth to increase more than 40 percent in May due to the recovery in passenger demand over the last few months.   “Passenger bookings are showing double-digit growth for international operations  for April and also May” President Ito said in an interview yesterday.  He added  there will probably be more business travel demand if the economy is stable as well as passenger inflow from JAL, which filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2010.