Tokyo - Japan Airlines Corp saw its operating profit and revenues fall in the July-September quarter on high fuel prices and slowing demand for air travel amid the global economic downturn and lowered its earnings projections for the year.

Operating profit dropped 60 per cent from the same quarter a year ago to 26.31 billion yen (268.47 million dollars), and revenues were also down 6.7 per cent to 583.26 billion yen.

But net profit more than tripled in the second quarter of the fiscal year, thanks to gains from securities sales.

Net profit rose to 40.09 billion yen during the quarter from 11.6 billion yen a year before.

JAL lowered its earnings forecast for the fiscal year, projecting operating profit of 28 billion yen on revenues of 2.09 trillion yen.

Operating profit was cut by 44 per cent from an earlier projection, and revenues were reduced by 4.1 per cent.

JAL left net profit projections unchanged at 13 billion yen. (dpa)