Spring Airlines Japan
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Founded | October 2012 | ||||||
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Commenced operations | 1 August 2014 | ||||||
Operating bases | Narita International Airport | ||||||
Fleet size | 3 | ||||||
Destinations | 4 (initial plan) | ||||||
Parent company | Spring Airlines, JTB, other Japanese investors | ||||||
Headquarters | Narita, Chiba Prefecture, Japan | ||||||
Key people | Hiroshi Ukai, Representative Director | ||||||
Total equity | JPY 6 billion | ||||||
Website | jp |
Spring Airlines Japan Co., Ltd. (春秋航空日本株式会社, Shunjū Kōkū Nihon Kabushiki Gaisha) is a low-cost airline headquartered in Kozunomori, Narita, Japan.[1] It is 33% owned by Spring Airlines, a Chinese low-cost carrier, with the remainder held by various Japanese investors. SAJ began operations in August 2014,[2] having originally planned to begin operations in autumn 2013.[3]
History
Spring Airlines announced in 2011 that it had plans to establish a subsidiary in Japan; it would be the first Chinese airline to do so.[4] Spring was required to find one or more local partners due to Japanese legal restrictions that would limit its investment to a minority stake.[5]
The airline received an air operator's certificate on December 17, 2013,[6] having filed in September 2013 with 1.5 billion yen of equity capital, of which Spring Airlines invested 33%. The remainder of the airline's capital was provided by Japanese financial institutions, IT enterprises and trading companies, among others. There were plans to raise a further 4.5 billion yen of capital prior to commencement of operations.[7] Japanese travel agency JTB announced in March 2014 that it would invest in Spring Airlines Japan and enter a partnership with the airline to provide Japan tour packages to Chinese customers.[8]
Spring Airlines Japan planned to use primarily Japanese staff, such as retired Japan Airlines pilots. Its head of operations, Minoru Uchida, was formerly a JAL pilot.[7]
Destinations
The airline serves the following destinations:[9]
Base |
City | Province/Region | Country | IATA | ICAO | Airport |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chongqing | Yubei | China | CKG | ZUCK | Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport |
Harbin begins 29 January 2017[10] |
Heilongjiang | China | HRB | ZYHB | Harbin Taiping International Airport |
Hiroshima | Chūgoku | Japan | HIJ | RJOA | Hiroshima Airport |
Osaka[11] | Honshu | Japan | KIX | RJBB | Kansai International Airport |
Saga | Kyūshū | Japan | HSG | RJFS | Saga Airport |
Sapporo[12] | Hokkaido | Japan | CTS | RJCC | New Chitose Airport |
Takamatsu | Shikoku | Japan | TAK | RJOT | Takamatsu Airport |
Tokyo | Kantō | Japan | NRT | RJAA | Narita International Airport |
Wuhan | Huangpi | China | WUH | ZHHH | Wuhan Tianhe International Airport |
SAJ may also eventually operate international services from Japan to secondary cities in Taiwan.
Fleet
SAJ took delivery of its first Boeing 737-800, JA01GR, at New Chitose Airport in 17 July 2013.[13] Although Spring Airlines uses Airbus A320 aircraft, the Japan operation elected to use the 737 due to its greater popularity among Japanese airlines and the relative ease of finding 737-qualified pilots, and is considering adopting 737 MAX aircraft in the future.[7]
The aircraft are fitted in a 189-seat configuration with 18 seats (the first three rows) curtained off as a premium cabin.[14] In December 2015, two 737-800 from Air Berlin were added as part of the retirement of Air Berlin 737 aircraft. It's one of ten 737-800 from Air Berlin for Japan.
The Spring Airlines Japan fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of August 2016):[15]
Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Passengers | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | Y | Total | |||
Boeing 737-800 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 168 | 189 |
References
- ^ "会社概要." Spring Airlines Japan. Retrieved on May 29, 2014. "〒286-0048 千葉県成田市公津の杜4丁目11番2号"
- ^ "国内線LCC競争激化! 「春秋航空日本」の武器は"飲み放題"!?". Nikkei Trendy Net. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
- ^ "Spring Airlines Japan approved, delays launch to 2014: report". CAPA. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ Wang, Ying (30 August 2011). "Spring Airlines looks to Japan for expansion". China Daily. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ Sanders, Fay (30 September 2011). "Spring Airlines on hunt for JV partner and first five narrowbodies". Ascend. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ "春秋航空日本、事業認可を取得 14年5月から国内3路線就航". 日本経済新聞. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ^ a b c Yoshikawa, Tadayuki (5 September 2013). "春秋航空日本、成田-高松など国内3路線就航へ 14年5月末". Aviation Wire. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- ^ Yoshikawa, Tadayuki (25 March 2014). "JTB、春秋航空日本に出資 4月から社員派遣". Aviation Wire. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
- ^ "路線図". Spring Airlines Japan. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
- ^ "Spring Airlines Japan adds Tokyo – Harbin route in Jan 2017". routesonline. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ "Spring Airlines Japan plans Tokyo – Osaka flights from Sep 2016". routesonline. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ "Spring Airlines Japan Plans Hokkaido Service from Aug 2016". routesonline. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ "Spring Airlines Japan's lone 737-800 finally touches down in Sapporo". CH Aviation. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ Yoshikawa, Tadayuki (26 December 2013). "春秋航空日本、機体と制服をお披露目". Aviation Wire. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
全189席のうち、前方3列の18席は上級クラスとする予定で、普通席との間はカーテンで仕切られる。
- ^ "Global Airline Guide 2016 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2016): 18.
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External links
- Website (Japanese)