AirAsia Japan
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| Founded | August 2011 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 1 August 2012 | ||||||
| Hubs | Narita International Airport | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | BIG[1] | ||||||
| Fleet size | 2 | ||||||
| Destinations | 4 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Shiodome City Center, Minato, Tokyo, Japan (planned) | ||||||
| Website | www.airasia.com | ||||||
AirAsia Japan Co., Ltd (エアアジア・ジャパン株式会社 Eāajia Japan Kabushiki-Gaisha) is a low-cost airline headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The airline is joint venture between Malaysia's AirAsia and Japan's All Nippon Airways. It is the fifth subsidiary for AirAsia and the ninth for ANA. The first flight for the airline occured on 1 August 2012 from Tokyo Narita to Fukuoka.[2]
History
Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia and Japanese network airline All Nippon Airways announced their joint venture at a press conference in Tokyo on July 21, 2011.[3] Following its formal establishment in August 2011, AirAsia Japan flew its first flight on August 2012.[3]
The airline is headquartered alongside ANA in Tokyo, with its main operating base at Narita International Airport, and initially serves domestic destinations with utilizing the brand and service model of AirAsia.[3] Future planned international destinations will include South Korea and Taiwan.[4] AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes also indicated that the JV hub at Narita may serve as a connecting point between Southeast Asia and the United States within the AirAsia group network.[5]
AirAsia Japan is the first low-cost airline to be based at Narita.[5] Its formation was announced only months after ANA had announced the formation of Peach, a low-cost airline based at Kansai International Airport in Osaka, and alongside a concurrent effort by Japan Airlines to set up a low-cost affiliate.[4] ANA elected to partner with an existing low-cost airline for efficiency and strategic advantage.[5]
Destinations
AirAsia Japan domestic destinations are
- Tokyo - Narita International Airport Main Hub
- Fukuoka - Fukuoka Airport
- Sapporo - New Chitose Airport
- Okinawa - Naha Airport
Proposed Destinations
eff October 2012
The airline is also planning to launch long-haul destinations such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore using the Airbus A330 aircraft in 2013.[7]
Fleet
AirAsia Japan has taken delivery of its first aircraft in Toulouse, France on 9 June 2012. The aircraft re-registered as JA01AJ. The fleet will growing to four aircraft by the end of 2012.[8]
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 2 | 180 |
References
- ^ Join BIG! AirAsia BIG Loyalty Programme
- ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-31/airasia-japan-starts-flights-as-budget-carriers-take-on-ana-jal.html%7C Bloomberg
- ^ a b c http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/aboutana/press/2011/110721.html ANA Official Press Release on the establishment of AirAsia Japan, 2011-07-21
- ^ a b "ANA, AirAsia to Launch Budget Carrier in Japan". Wall Street Journal. 22 July 2011.
- ^ a b c "AirAsia-ANA tie-up likely". Thestar.com.my. 15 July 2011.
- ^ AirAsia budget carrier to start routes | The Japan Times Online
- ^ http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/20111102093347/Article/
- ^ AirAsia Japan takes delivery of its first Airbus A320 aircraft | Airbus News & Events
