Tag Archives: Japan

AirAsia Japan to be relaunched in 2015

AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) has announced the second launch of AirAsia Japan (2nd). The low-fare Malaysian airline issued this statement today (July 1). Operations are due to start in mid 2015. Here is the full statement:

AirAsia today (July 1) announced that it will be entering into a Shareholders Agreement with Octave Japan Infrastructure Fund I GK (Octave), Rakuten Inc. (Rakuten), Noevir Holdings Co. Ltd. (Noevir), and Alpen Co. Ltd. (Alpen) to establish AirAsia Japan.

Tony Fernandes (center above), Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia said, “We are very excited to return to Japan’s skies together with Octave, Rakuten, Noevir and Alpen this time round. I am more confident than ever that AirAsia Japan, led by Odi (Odagiri Yoshinori) with the strong partnership we have with our new investors, will continue to realize our vision to revolutionize the low-cost carrier segment of Japan. The AirAsia Japan team is now working hard with the relevant authorities to obtain necessary operational approvals, and we hope that all will be in place to start both domestic and international flights by the summer of 2015.”

Odagiri Yoshinori, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Japan further commented, “We are ready to take on this challenge and with great teamwork, we hope to bring AirAsia’s successful low-cost business model once again to Japan. Our counterparts in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and India have seen great and encouraging responses in their markets, and we will work towards the same for Japan. We would like to thank the investors for their belief in us and we look forward to working closely with them moving forward.”

Octave was incorporated in Japan on May 2014 and its major business is to acquire, own, manage, hold, sell, and dispose of the shares of AirAsia Japan and make collections from the shares of AirAsia Japan; while Rakuten was incorporated in Japan on February 1997 and its major business includes Internet services (e-commerce, travel), financial services (bank, credit card, securities. etc), telecommunications and professional sports.

Noevir, which was incorporated in Japan on March 2011 and its major business includes cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and health food, apparel and aviation business. Alpen was incorporated in Japan on July 1972 and its major business includes manufacturing and retail of ski equipment, other sporting goods equipment including golf, tennis, marine sports, baseball, etc. and leisure goods; management of ski resorts, golf courses and fitness clubs.

Read the full story from ZipanguFlyer: CLICK HERE

Read the analysis by Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE

AirAsia (Japan) (1st):

AirAsia (Malaysia):

Qatar Airways to start a new route to Tokyo Haneda tomorrow, Airbus A380 to be introduced now to London Heathrow on August 1

Qatar Airways (Doha) is set to continue its expansion into the Far East tomorrow (June 18) when it launches its newest destination, Tokyo Haneda International Airport. The addition of its newest destination will double the airline’s service to the city of Tokyo with up to two flights a day. The route, which will be operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, will be Qatar Airways’ third into Japan, joining Osaka and Tokyo’s Narita International Airport.

With the commencement of flights to Tokyo Haneda, the number of flights to Japan rises from 14 to 21 frequencies each week.

In other news, Qatar Airways is now planning to introduce the new Airbus A380 on August 1 to London (Heathrow) and Paris (CDG) on August 15 according to Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A380-861 F-WWST (msn 137) has now become A7-APA for its handover.

Qatar Airways:

Boeing and JTA finalize the order for 12 Boeing 737-800s

Boeing (Chicago and Seattle) and JTA-Japan Transocean Air (Naha, Okinawa, Japan) have finalized an order for 12 Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes. The arrival of the new 737-800s in 2016 will mark the start of the airline’s fleet renewal program.

The order, first announced as a commitment on March 27, is valued at $1.1 billion at list prices. As part of the agreement, JTA will also have the flexibility to switch to the 737 MAX family of airplanes.

Based in Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost major island chain, Japan Airlines Group member JTA currently operates a fleet of 737-400 airplanes on domestic routes linking Okinawa with major Japanese cities as well as other Okinawa islands.

The airplanes will be fitted with Boeing’s latest Performance Improvement Package (PIP), delivering an additional 2 percent improvement in fuel efficiency for what is already the most fuel efficient single-aisle airplane in the market. The airplanes will also feature the popular passenger-inspired Boeing Sky Interior, with modern sculpted sidewalls and window reveals, LED lighting that enhances the sense of spaciousness and larger pivoting overhead stowage bins.

Top Copyright Photo: KSK/AirlinersGallery.com. JTA currently operates 13 aging Boeing 737-400s including the well-known blue (above) (male) and pink (female) whale shark designs (Jimbei Jet and Sakura Jimbei). Boeing 737-4Q3 JA8939 (msn 29486) completes its over water approach to Ishigaki, Japan.

Bottom Image: Boeing.

JTA:

JTA orders 12 Boeing 737-800s to replace its older 737-400s

JTA-Japan Transocean Air (Naha, Okinawa) and Boeing (Chicago and Seattle) announced the airline’s selection of 12 Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes. The selection, valued at $1.1 billion at list prices, will mark the start of the airline’s fleet renewal program with the new airplanes scheduled to enter into service from 2016. As part of the agreement, JTA will have the flexibility to switch to the 737 MAX family of airplanes.

A member of the Japan Airlines Group, JTA is based in Naha, Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost island chain. Currently, the airline operates a fleet of 737-400 airplanes on domestic routes linking Okinawa with major Japanese cities as well as other islands within Okinawa.

JTA’s new 737-800s will be powered by CFM56-7 engines manufactured by CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric and SNECMA. The airplanes will be fitted with Boeing’s latest Performance Improvement Package (PIP), delivering an additional two percent improvement in fuel efficiency for what is already the most fuel efficient single-aisle airplane. The airplanes will also feature the popular passenger-inspired Boeing Sky Interior, with modern sculpted sidewalls and window reveals, LED lighting that enhances the sense of spaciousness and larger pivoting overhead stowage bins.

Copyright Photo: Akira Uekawa/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-4Q3 JA8940 (msn 29487) completes the final approach into Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport).

JTA-Japan Transocean Air:

Finnair’s cabin crews to wear kimonos on flights to Japan until April 16

Finnair (Helsinki) between today (March 26) and April 16 will feature specially tailored kimonos created for the cabin crew by Marimekko on Japanese flights in celebration of the Japanese Sakura (Hanami), the Cherry Blossom viewing. During this three week period three kimonos will be worn per flight during boarding and inflight sales. The kimonos will be used for a week at a time on each route starting:

· From Nagoya between March 26 and April 1;
· During the second week in Osaka from April 2 to 8;
· During the last week in Tokyo between April 9 and 16.

The kimonos will feature fourteen of Marimekko’s unique and colorful designs that draw their inspiration from some of nature’s most beautiful elements such as beehives, trees, roses, poppies, the wild Angelican plant and the snowberry plant. These patterns span five decades of Marimekko designs . Each pattern has its own unique story whether signifying the designers shift from ornamental to graphic patterns or emphasizing the designers introduction of floral patterns.

In addition to the Marimekko tailored Kimonos, Finnair will celebrate Sakura with a special Sakura menu with a Sakura menu card in Business Class while in Economy Class Sakura noodles and dessert will replace current menu items. In addition, trolleys will be decorated with Sakura flowers. Customers can also enjoy L’Occidane Cherry Blossom fragrance in lavatories and hot towels distributed in Business Class and special inflight items such as cherry blossom EdT and Fazer Geisha chocolate will be offered.

As we previously reported, on March 20, Finnair celebrated 90 years of flying. The company issued this statement:

It has been 90 years since Finnair’s first commercial flight. On March 20, 1924, a Junkers F13 D-335 seaplane transported 162 kilograms of mail from Katajanokka in Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia. The founding documents of the company, then known as Aero Oy, had been signed on November 1 the previous year.

Nine decades later, Finnair operates 43 aircraft to more than 60 destinations around the world, employing nearly six thousand people. Last year, the company transported 9.3 million passengers, which represents 60 per cent of all passengers that passed through Helsinki Airport. Air traffic plays a central role in Finnish business and the national economy, directly and indirectly employing over 120,000 people in Finland.

The world’s sixth-oldest airline still in operation celebrates the 90th anniversary of its maiden flight at work. Today, Finnair has six daily flights on weekdays between Helsinki and Tallinn operated by Flybe.

Finnair:

New ANA Video: Funny or Racist? ANA Group releases its summer domestic schedule

ANA (All Nippon Airways) (Tokyo) has introduced this new TV commercial (above) mainly for the domestic Japanese market. The airline in the TV ad is boasting about its international expansion and jokingly suggests it needs to become more international in its appearance. The ad also pokes fun at Westerners. Reactions are on the two ends of the spectrum, either funny or stereotypical racist. There does not appear to be a middle ground of opinions.

My take: Advertising is meant to grab the attention of the viewer. This ad certainly has grabbed the attention of viewers, both in Japan and worldwide. Is it a plus for ANA? Maybe. Time will tell, especially since everything produced today is now worldwide in consumption. There are no barriers on the Internet. Things meant for domestic consumption become an international viral hit in a short amount of time. Personally, I find it very funny. We all need to laugh at ourselves more. What do you think?

In other news, the ANA Group has presented its domestic timetable effective on March 30, 2014 for the summer season:

ANA Group, Japan’s largest airline group, today announces that it has submitted its proposed route network for the summer timetable commencing March 30, 2014 to October 25, 2014 to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan.ANA continues to further expand its network and improve competitiveness in order to survive in what is an increasingly competitive industry.

Details of the service are as follows:
(Subject to approval by relevant authorities)

● Newly Launched & Increased Frequency & Resumed Service

*1 Flight frequency is 4/day during September 1 – October 25.
*2 Seasonal operation during the period.● Decreased Frequency

*3 Seasonal decrease of frequency during the period.
*4 Flight frequency is 8/day during March 30 – June 30, and 5-7/day during July 1 – October 25. For details please visit our website.
*5 Flight frequency is 7/day during March 30 – June 30, and 6/day during July 1 – October 25.

● Route Suspension

*6 Code-sharing flight with IBEX Airlines (1/day) will continue to be served.

ANA:

Link Airs is a non-starter, files for bankruptcy

Link Airs (Fukuoka) was a planned regional start-up in Japan. According to CAPA, the paper airline was planning a spring 2014 debut, operating two ATR 72-600s initially on routes from Fukuoka to Kitakyushu including five times daily Fukuoka-Miyazaki, three times daily Fukuoka-Matsuyama and daily Kitakyushu-Matsuyama services.

However the new airline won’t fly after the two prospective ATR 72-600s (JA01LK and JA02LK) were painted at Toulouse. The company, established on April 5, 2012, filed for bankruptcy protection on December 10, 2013 after failing to raise enough capital to start operations. The airline will now be liquidated. The would-be airline owed around eighty creditors according to local reports.

The airline had a technical and training support agreement with StarFlyer. Link Airs applied for an AOC in July 2013.

Link Airs would have been the first operator of ATR aircraft in Japan.

Copyright Photo: Olivier Gregoire/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) with the test registration of F-WWET at Toulouse would have become JA02LK on delivery that never happened.

Most flights by U.S. airlines to Japan canceled

U.S. Carriers are still canceling most of their Japanese-bound flights due to the gridlock in the country caused by yesterday’s massive earthquake and tsunami. Ground transportation remains the main problem as getting to and from the major Tokyo airports is still problematic.

Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE

Map of earthquake zone in Japan: