AirAsia X to fly to Haneda

[BC Tam 2]

2 slots = 1 weekly return flight

Dato TF says initial 3 weekly runs, up to 7 weekly eventually

No wonder everything sill at 'plans to' stage

Edited April 14, 2010 by BC Tam

[Hon Kit 3]

After lurking around Airasia facebook site, they said no comfirmation on this yet.

[alberttky 0]

Airline will be first foreign low-cost carrier serving Haneda airport from Dec 9

 

PETALING JAYA: AirAsia X will begin flights to Haneda airport in Tokyo on Dec 9 and open ticket sales for the sector next week.

 

The airline plans to mount three weekly flights and it will be the first foreign low-cost carrier serving the airport that is expected to open for international flights in late October.

 

Asashi newspaper in Japan reported that AirAsia X was expected to price fares far lower than those charged for existing services between the capitals of Japan and Malaysia offered by Japan Airlines and Malaysia Airlines (MAS).

 

AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani declined to reveal any pricing when contacted yesterday by StarBiz. But the market is abuzz with talk that the introductory price could range from RM99 to RM199.

 

Azran said that flying to Tokyo would be “super exciting as finally people will have choices and low fares to go to great places.’’

 

Three flights per week may be too few for AirAsia X but for now the airline does not have much of a choice.

 

It is learnt that the Japanese authorities had accorded seven rights and the Malaysian authorities awarded three each to AirAsia X and MAS, and one to Transmile.

 

“Japan is a high fixed cost city and with so few flights it would be difficult to make the sector sustainable so we will have to convince the authorities to grant us daily flights,” Azran said.

 

MAS will introduce three flights a week between Kota Kinabalu and Haneda from Nov 15.

 

Haneda airport is the main domestic hub for Tokyo but due to congestion in Narita, it will start receiving international flights next month. Haneda is just a 20-minute monorail or cab ride from downtown Tokyo whereas Narita is at least an hour’s train ride, and the trip can take over two hours by car on clogged roads.

 

To beat potential competition from six foreign low-cost carriers from China and South-East Asia, both Japanese carriers – Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) – want to set up low-cost airlines.

 

ANA has inked a deal with Hong Kong’s First Eastern Investment Group to set up a new airline that will start operations in the second half of 2011. ANA will own 39% in the venture and Far Eastern 33%. The balance equity will be sold to other investors.

 

http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/9/15/business/7035685&sec=business

[jani 0]

Hope to snatch some nice tickets!

[Johan Z 0]

Book Japan flights with Malaysia Airlines online

 

Passengers wanting to fly Malaysia Airlines to Japan with codeshare partner ANA can now book online.

 

Malaysia Airlines already serves Nagoya and Tokyo through its code share agreement with ANA.

 

However, until now these tickets could previously only be purchased at Malaysia Airlines’ ticketing offices or through travel agents and not online.

 

Malaysia Airlines’ daily flight to Fukuoka departs Kuala Lumpur at 11.30pm and arrives in Tokyo at 7:40am the next morning. The connecting flight departs Tokyo at 11:30am and arrives in Fukuoka at 1:30pm.

 

The flight to Nagoya departs Kuala Lumpur daily at 11:30pm and arrives in Tokyo at 7:40am. From there, customers can take the connecting flight at 10:00am to arrive in Nagoya at 11:20am.

 

Malaysia Airlines senior GM, commercial strategy, Dr Amin Khan said the flight schedule suits both business and leisure travellers as they will arrive in Tokyo early in the morning. At the same time, the timing for the connecting flight is convenient, ensuring customers don’t have to wait too long.

 

“We are in the midst of expanding our operations and will be introducing more flights to Japan. With the launch of Kota Kinabalu as a hub, we will offer three weekly non-stop flights from Kota Kinabalu to Haneda, the city airport in Japan. This is effective from November 15, 2011. At the same time, we will also introduce twice weekly services from Kota Kinabalu to Osaka from January 15, 2011.”

 

Currently, Malaysia Airlines connects to Tokyo 11 times weekly and Osaka six times weekly.

 

http://www.aviationrecord.com/Cargo/tabid/68/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2844/Book-Japan-flights-with-Malaysia-Airlines-online.aspx

Edited September 16, 2010 by Johan Z

[dsim 0]

so what happen to the right that is awarded to Transmile?

Edited September 16, 2010 by Dennis S.

[flee 5]

Should be launching next week. Here is the CEO's tweet:

Announcement around 21 Sept

 

AirAsia Tweet:

Moshi moshi! Meet Ben & Gwen who r insanely fascinated w Japan! Help 'em & win free flights to Japan! http://bit.ly/cWkyLd

[Yue Lee 0]

Agreed. HND is a gold mine. I am not sure why MH just stood still when SQ jumped at the opportunity right after the announcement of opening up HND to more foreign airlines. SQ will serve HND twice daily with B77W, on top of their 2 daily flights into NRT (one of which is an A380). That's 4 daily flights from SQ alone to Tokyo. SQ Talkers are predicting that HND is going to do so well that an A380 will be deployed for the route in the near future.

 

Congrates to D7 for managed to secure HND for Malaysia.

 

MH is probably too busy competing with the adolescent kid (AK) and not with the fully grown sophisticated young lad (SQ). What a shame, MH really should compete with its own league and leave AK alone but that won't be happening anytime too soon I guess.

[Riza 0]

SQ: 2x daily SIN-HND 77W to complement NRT service.

MH: KCH-BKI-HND 3x weekly 738 + 2x daily 772 NRT service.

AK: 3 weekly HND service with D7's CEO is seeking & pursuing a daily service.

 

Let see how is D7 offering the HND sector. When SQ launched it, it's promotional ex-KUL fare is around MYR 1800.00 return, but now stands at around MYR 2.4k.

[Jonathan Kong 0]

Courtesy of Yukihiro San

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

SQ: 2x daily SIN-HND 77W to complement NRT service.

MH: KCH-BKI-HND 3x weekly 738 + 2x daily 772 NRT service.

AK: 3 weekly HND service with D7's CEO is seeking & pursuing a daily service.

 

Let see how is D7 offering the HND sector. When SQ launched it, it's promotional ex-KUL fare is around MYR 1800.00 return, but now stands at around MYR 2.4k.

Interesting project to pursue. As a start, this is SQ's current promo for their twice daily service KUL-(SIN)-HND vv flying onboard the B77Ws. SQ will start the HND service on 31 October 2010.

 

 

All advertised Singapore Airlines fares include the price of the air ticket, associated taxes and surcharges only, correct as of 20 September 2010. Fares quoted are subject to change due to currency fluctuation. Fares quoted are available from 20 September 2010 to 19 October 2010, subject to seat availability.

[flee 5]

AirAsia X CEO: To Begin Tokyo Haneda-Kuala Lumpur Flights Dec

 

TOKYO (Dow Jones)--The low-cost long-haul arm of AirAsia will begin budget flight services between Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur from December, becoming the first foreign low-cost carrier to use Tokyo's downtown Haneda airport.

 

Air Asia X is targeting "young Japanese who want to visit (but) haven't been able to ... because of the (current) high fares," AirAsia X Chief Executive Azran Osman-Rani said at a press conference in Tokyo.

 

Earlier this month, All Nippon Airways Co. (9202) said it will launch a low-cost carrier next year with other partners, including Hong Kong-based private equity fund First Eastern Investment Group. The new carrier will have short-haul routes out of Kansai International Airport in Osaka, western Japan.

[flee 5]

Moshi Moshi,

 

The flight you have been waiting for is here: We are flying to Japan and the fare starts from an amazing RM 99!

 

Your experience with us in the Land of the Rising Sun begins at Tokyo's Haneda airport. We're sure you're already imagining yourself skiing down Mount Fuji, being captivated by rustling Sakura trees and enjoying delicious servings of sushi.

 

Of course, there's so much more to look forward to. Geishas, harajuku culture, Cosplay, fantastic toy stores, super-slick architecture... the list truly is endless!

 

Book your seats now and fly with us to Japan starting 9 Dec 2010!

 

http://www.airasia.com/nl/nl100921d35z_my.htm

[dsim 0]

247, wonder what is the time schedule like?

Edited September 21, 2010 by Dennis S.

[Sharil Abdul Rahman 0]

The flights will be tuesday, thursday and sunday.

 

Hoping the tax will not be a burden - would love to be one of the first to fly the legs.

Also FINALLY, true leisure trips to japan for cheap.

[flee 5]

The return fare is RM 312 - so there is a massive difference between the outward flight at RM 99. Looks like a return trip with luggage, meals and insurance will come up close to RM 600 per pax on this introductory offer. With D7 the introductory fares are usually their cheapest because they don't pull cheap "zero" or RM 1 seats sale tricks very often.

[Sharil Abdul Rahman 0]

flee: how are you checking this? and for which dates?

[Naim 6]

i like japan. next time i go there, i'm heading for hokkaido!

[jani 0]

Is it bookable? Tried to book various dates in January or June but came out with:

 

Sorry, there are no fares available on this date. The flights are probably sold out. Please search a different date. For flights departing within the next 4 hours, please contact our Call Centre.

 

 

EDIT: Ah just read, 23 September

Edited September 21, 2010 by jani

[Mike P 0]

I think there are 3 major differences between KUL and SIN capture of Tokyo traffic.

 

1. Due to huge presence of American multinational companies in Singapore, passengers from west coast USA use Tokyo as transit point to SIN.

2. Very close Sino-Japan cooperation also see large traffic between nationals of these two countries.

3. For Singaporean going to Tokyo, only visa on arrival needed, not prior to arrival.

 

Thus the SIN-NRT/HND traffic volume would be expectedly larger than KUL-NRT. Of course, DJ prides itself with opening up of new traffic and stimulating growth, rather than relying on 'old traffic'.

 

Singaporean does not require visa to gain entry to Japan, Malaysian on the other hand requires visa.

[flee 5]

AirAsia may fan price war with cheap Tokyo flights

Tue Sep 21, 2010 6:02am EDT

 

* Offers 5,000 yen tickets between Haneda and Kuala Lumpur

 

* Aims to increase flights to daily from 3 a week - CEO

 

* May expand further to Osaka, Fukuoka, Sapporo - CEO

 

By Antoni Slodkowski

 

TOKYO, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Malaysia's AirAsia (AIRA.KL), the first international budget carrier to fly to Tokyo's Haneda airport, plans to kick off service with $58 flights between Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur and said it could expand to three more Japanese airports.

 

In a move that could pour fuel on increasing price competition over Japan's skies, the 5,000 yen flights are on offer from December until July next year, after which prices will start at 10,000 yen ($116), with premium lie-flat seats costing 48,000 yen.

 

That compares with current prices of around $650 to $2,000 for the same route from airlines such as Japan Airlines (JALFQ.PK), All Nippon Airways (9202.T), Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MASM.KL) and Cathay Pacific (0293.HK).

 

The pricing comes on the heels of tickets between Shanghai and Japan's Ibaraki airport, 85 km north of Tokyo, for as little as 4,000 yen from China discount carrier Spring Airlines.

 

Until recently, low-cost airlines had found it difficult to expand to Japan due to high labour costs and limited slot availability at key airports.

 

But Haneda, which is closer to central Tokyo than Narita International, Japan's major international airport, will open a fourth runway next month while a new "open skies" pact will cut government restrictions on airlines to flying in and out of Japan.

 

"The power of Haneda is its very strong domestic network, with dozens of flights to Sapporo, Osaka, Fukuoka ... and its very central location thanks to which it already has a strong cargo operation that we can tap," Azran Osman-Rani, chief executive of AirAsia X, the carrier's long-haul unit.

 

"We could operate in at least three different airports in Japan, just give us a couple of years as airports like Fukuoka, Osaka and Sapporo are all places that we have a strong interest in," he added.

 

The Tokyo-Kuala Lumpur flights will use Airbus (EAD.PA) A330 aircraft and the company hopes to eventually offer flights daily from an initial three per week.

 

The incursions by budget carriers into the Japanese market have prompted Japan's No.2 carrier All Nippon Airways to announce a plan this month to start a low cost carrier to fly between Japan and China in partnership with Hong Kong-based private equity firm First Eastern Investment Group. [iD:nTOE68807K]

 

Japan Airlines has also said it would look at creating a low-cost carrier.

 

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTOE68K00Z20100921

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

Singaporean does not require visa to gain entry to Japan, Malaysian on the other hand requires visa.

 

Why is that? The visa restriction's understandable for travel to America, but Japan? We contributed a lot to their economy, not the very least helping them get rid of their old cars!

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

Because many Malaysians abused their visiting visas to work illegally in Japan. It's the same reason why the UK threaten to impose pre-requisite visa rule to Malaysians not too long ago.

 

Here is the visa requirement for Malaysia passport holders to enter Japan.

 

/ 22SEP10 / 1239 UTC

National Malaysia (MY) /Embarkation Malaysia (MY)

Destination Japan (JP)

 

Japan (JP)

 

 

Passport required.

- Passport and/or passport replacing documents must be valid

on arrival.

 

Visa required, except for A max. stay of 90 days:

- for nationals of Malaysia, provided holding:

- normal passports (SEE NOTE 31276);

NOTE 31276: However, it is highly recommended to obtain

a visa prior to arrival. Those arriving without visa will

be subject to thorough interrogation and strict checks by

the immigration officers on arrival and are likely to be

refused entry.

Visa required, except for Holders of an APEC Business Travel

Card. Back of the card must state that it is valid for travel

to Japan. Upon arrival a visit pass will be issued.

Minors:

- In the case of immediate family travelling together,

For details, click here

Additional Information:

- All visitors must hold confirmed onward or return ticket,

proof of sufficient funds to cover duration of their stay in

Japan and documents required for their next destination.

- An unexpired visa in an expired passport may be used

provided For details, click here

Warning:

- Non-compliance with entry regulations may result in fines

for the carrier of JPY 500,000.- and refusal of the

passenger.

 

 

 

Japan (JP)

 

No vaccinations are required to enter Japan from any country.

 

CHECK TINEWS/N1 - INDIA: XIX COMMONWEALTH GAMES

 

 

 

Timaticweb Version 1.3

22 September 2010

 

This is the link to the Japanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur for visa arrangement. They also have Consulate Office in Penang, Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu. http://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/English/visit.html

 

Some key information about visa processing requirement for Malaysians wanting to visit Japan for holiday.

 

PERIOD OF VISA PROCESSING

Currently THREE WORKING DAYS are necessary for processing of visas for normal cases.

However, the visa processing might take longer depending on the content of the application. Please apply visa well in advance.

 

CHARGE

All types of visas for Malaysians are issued FREE OF CHARGE.

For non Malaysian citizens, the visa application fees are listed here.

 

B. HOLIDAY AND TRANSIT

1. Original passport

2. One (1) visa application form (downloadable)

3. One (1) photo (4.5cm x 4.5cm) with white background which is taken within 6 month from the visa application and must be pasted on the application form

4. Itinerary in Japan (downloadable) and for transit purpose, copy of visa to the main destination (USA, CANADA, etc)

5. Employment certificate stating your position, department in the company and length of service(using the company letterhead)

*If you are a sole proprietor/partner/owner of the company, you need to submit a copy of your business registration

*For those who are not working: a self explanatory letter stating how expenses will be borne, name and relationship of person(s) accompanying (if any)

6. Personal savings, latest current account statement, fixed deposit, Tabung Haji or Amanah Saham Berhad (ASB) (original certified true copy by the bank) (need to show the applicant’s name as the account owner, account number and current balance)

7. Copy of marriage certificate (spouse) or birth certificate (children) to show proof of relationship between the main applicant and the person(s) accompanying

 

NOTES

 

1. Please arrange all the documents according to the sequence. Documents submitted will not be returned.

2. All photocopies must be on A4 size paper.

3. Collection of passport will be three (3) working days for Malaysian (subject to approval).

 

*THE EMBASSY OF JAPAN HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS OR CALL THE APPLICANT FOR AN INTERVIEW*

 

 

EMBASSY OF JAPAN

CONSULAR SECTION

11, PERSIARAN STONOR

OFF JALAN TUN RAZAK

50450 KUALA LUMPUR

http://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/

 

OFFICE HOURS

MONDAY - FRIDAY

8.30 a.m. - 12.00 noon

2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.

TEL: 603-2177 2600

FAX: 603-2143 1739

EMAIL: ryo@kl.mofa.go.jp

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

And the poster is up.

 

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

Because many Malaysians abused their visiting visas to work illegally in Japan. It's the same reason why the UK threaten to impose pre-requisite visa rule to Malaysians not too long ago.

 

Selfish idiots. If they want to work they should have gone through proper channels rather than taking the easy way out! A few rotten apples spoils it for everyone!