Tag Archives: A320216

Alitalia fails to raise enough “cash call” capital to keep it flying

Alitalia (2nd) (Rome) according to Reuters, has failed so far to raise the 300 million euros ($407 million) (only 173 million euros received) in its emergency cash call. The flag carrier is now facing stiffer competition as other airlines move in to add new routes from Italy sensing the emergency. Alitalia will need to find a strategic carrier very quickly that is willing to invest in a failing airline and turn it around. So far Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi), the savior of struggling airlines, has avoided Alitalia.

Air France-KLM, which owns 25 percent, refused to put in any more capital because it stated the rescue plan was not drastic enough to save the airline.

This is the second version of Alitalia, saved once before from the first failing Alitalia. Is there a third?

The Italian drama continues. Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Alitalia (2nd):

AirAsia Japan to become Vanilla Air

AirAsia Japan (Tokyo-Narita), the failed joint venture between AirAsia (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) and ANA (All Nippon Airways) (Tokyo), will be rebranded as Vanilla Air by its now full parent, ANA, which acquired AirAsia’s shares in the joint venture. Vanilla Air will become the new name in December. In the meantime, AirAsia Japan is cancelling hundreds of flights between September 1 and October 26 (see below).

Read the full story from Channel NewsAsia: CLICK HERE

The current AirAsia Japan aircraft are being returned to AirAsia. AirAsia previously issued this statement about the cancelled joint venture and as a result the following cancelled flights:

1 SEP – 26 OCT 2013 : From/ To Nagoya (Chubu)

Nagoya (Chubu) → Fukuoka			Fukuoka → Nagoya (Chubu)
Flight No.	Departure	Arrival	Flight No.	Departure	Arrival
JW8621	6:45	8:05	JW8622	8:40	9:55
JW8627	19:55	21:15	JW8628	21:40	22:55

Nagoya (Chubu) → Sapporo (Shin-Chitose)			Sapporo (Shin-Chitose) → Nagoya (Chubu)
Flight No.	Departure	Arrival	Flight No.	Departure	Arrival
JW8617	15:40	17:20	JW8616	17:45	19:30

Nagoya (Chubu) → Seoul (Incheon)			Seoul (Incheon) → Nagoya (Chubu)
Flight No.	Departure	Flight No.	Flight No.	Departure	Flight No.
JW865	10:45	12:45	JW866	13:10	15:00

1 OCT – 26 OCT 2013 : Narita=Sapporo (Shin-Chitose) & Narita=Okinawa (Naha)

Tokyo (Narita) → Sapporo (Shin-Chitose)				Sapporo (Shin-Chitose) → Tokyo (Narita)
Flight No.	Departure	Arrival	Frequency	Flight No.	Departure	Arrival	Frequency
JW8521	7:10	8:55	Thu, Sat	JW8520	9:20	10:55	Thu, Sat
JW8521	7:15	9:00	Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun	JW8520	9:25	11:00	Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun
JW8523	11:25	13:20	Thu, Sat	JW8522	13:45	15:20	Thu, Sat
JW8523	111:30	13:25	Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun	JW8522	13:50	15:25	Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun

Tokyo (Narita) → Okinawa (Naha)				Okinawa (Naha) → Tokyo (Narita)
Flight No.	Departure	Arrival	Frequency	Flight No.	Departure	Arrival
JW8665	15:55	18:50	Thu, Sat	JW8666	19:20	21:55
	16:00	18:55	Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-216 JA02AJ (msn 5200) climbs away from the Tokyo (Narita) base.

AirAsia Japan:

AirAsia Japan to be shut down on October 31

AirAsia Japan (Tokyo-Narita) will cease all scheduled services on October 31, 2013. ANA has decided it will not merge the joint venture with Peach Aviation. The airline started operations on August 1, 2012.

All four Airbus A320s will be returned to AirAsia (Malaysia) the following day.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-216 JA01AJ (msn 5153) approaches the Tokyo (Narita) hub.

AirAsia (Japan):

Route Map:

Is AirAsia ready to give up on its ANA joint venture AirAsia Japan?

AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) may be getting ready to quit its AirAsia Japan (Tokyo-Narita) joint venture with ANA (All Nippon Airways) (Tokyo) according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. The WSJ is reporting there is management “tension” and different approaches between the two main carriers.

One report has AirAsia selling all of its stock to ANA. ANA in return will merge AirAsia Japan with Peach Aviation. However this has not been confirmed by any of the parties which are reportedly exploring their options. Can the marriage between a fast-growing low fare airline and a mainline legacy flag carrier be saved?

AirAsia Japan commenced operations on August 1, 2012.

Read the full story from the Malaysian Insider: CLICK HERE

The CEO of AirAsia Japan issued this statement on June 11:

In regards to the recent media announcements on the dissolution of AirAsia Japan Co., Ltd., a joint venture between ANA Holdings Inc. and AirAsia Berhad; please be informed that our shareholders are still exploring all available options and any decision will be further subject to respective corporate approvals.

Rest assured that with the strong support from our major shareholder, ANA Holdings Inc., AirAsia Japan will continue to operate flights as usual.

As a Japan-based Low Cost Carrier (LCC), our goal is to make your dreams of travel a reality.
Your support is truly appreciated.

See you in the clouds!

Yours sincerely,

Yoshinori Odagiri
CEO, AirAsia Japan

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. The only way to tell it is AirAsia Japan is the small “Japan” inscription by the nose and the JA Japanese aircraft registration. Airbus A320-216 JA03AJ (msn 5325) climbs away from the Tokyo (Narita) base.

Current Route Map:

AirAsia Japan:

India to review the AirAsia-Tata joint venture proposal on March 6

AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) and the Tata Group (Mumbai) have announced a new joint venture proposal. If approved by the Indian government the new JV would bring a new low-fare airline to India under the AirAsia brand based in Chennai.

According to this report by One India News the Indian Finance Ministry is due to take up the proposal before the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) on March 6.

AirAsia has applied to control 49 percent in this new joint venture with Tata Sons Ltd and Arun Bhatia’s Telestra Tradeplace Pvt Ltd. If approved, this will be the return of Tata to the aviation business. State-owned Air India grew out of Tata Airlines, which began operations in 1932. Ironically Air India (Mumbai) and other Indian carriers are likely to oppose the entry of AirAsia.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Guillaume Besnard. AirAsia’s Airbus A320-216 9M-AFQ (msn 3018) in the special ZOOM! color scheme arrives at Bangkok.

AirAsia (Malaysia):

Air One to expand the Venice base with summer service to Copenhagen

Air One (Milan-Malpensa) is again planning to expand the new Venice base with three-times-weekly summer season service from VCE to Copenhagen from June 27 through September 8, 2013 with Airbus A320s per Airline Route.

Air One added the Venice base on May 4, 2012 when the first flight took off from Venice to Palermo. Air One is now connecting Venice to 12 destinations: Brindisi, Cagliari, Palermo, Barcelona, Prague, St. Petersburg, Warsaw, Istanbul, Brussels, Athens, Palma de Mallorca and Menorca.

The Venice base is Air One’s third base after Milan Malpensa and Pisa.

Air One:

Routes from Venice:

Air One VCE 12:2012 Route Map

Thai AirAsia to return to Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport on October 1

Thai AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Bangkok) will move all of its operations from the large (but more congested) Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) back to the smaller (but underutilized) Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) on October 1. The low-fare airline is currently being impacted at BKK with a runway closure that is renovating the east runway until August 9, 2012.

The company issued the following statement:

“AirAsia affirms its readiness to transfer all operations to Don Mueang International Airport by October 1, 2012. The airline assures Don Mueang Airport will be able to accommodate its growing fleet and provide its customers with the utmost satisfaction.”

Thai AirAsia is planning to grow its Airbus A320 fleet to 48 aircraft.

Thai AirAsia:

Bombardier is in talks with AirAsia about a possible order

Bombardier (Toronto) is reportedly in talks with AirAsia (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) about a high density (160 seat) version of its new CSeries airliner according to this report by Reuters.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

AirAsia (Malaysia):