Japan's biggest airlines foresee smooth annual earnings

Japan's two biggest airlines on Friday projected smooth full-year earnings, with All Nippon Airways (ANA) placing a $2.2 billion order for Boeing and Airbus planes, while rival Japan Airlines (JAL) raised its full-year profit forecast. ANA said its April-December net profit soared 57.2 percent to 52.36 billion yen ($443 million) from a year ago, as an expansion at Tokyo's downtown Haneda airport increased landing slots for international flights.