Japan's biggest airlines project smooth annual earnings

Japan's two biggest airlines posted mixed nine-month results on Friday with All Nippon Airways posting a 57 percent rise in net profit as its international business took off, while rival Japan Airlines (JAL) saw its bottom line shrink. Despite the fall in profit, JAL raised its full-year earnings forecast owing to falling fuel costs and stronger revenue in its cargo business. ANA said its April-December net profit more than doubled to 52.36 billion yen ($443 million) from a year ago, as an