AirAsia-ANA tie-up - AirAsia Japan

[flee 5]

Japan's aviation scene, which had few significant movements over the past decade, will be turned on its head in just five months, encompassing the time three new low-cost carriers will enter the market, the latest of which is AirAsia Japan. Preliminary schedules show AirAsia Japan and Jetstar Japan, both based at Tokyo Narita, will compete head on from Tokyo to Fukuoka, Okinawa and Sapporo. The market, which has grown accustomed to the presence of two main carriers and a handful of smaller ones with little movement in fares, will be inundated with new and aggressive competition offering typical LCC fare stimulation. Adjustment time will be brief as AirAsia Japan within two months is due to enter short-haul international markets.

 

Yet despite the compactness of LCC activity, preliminary nuances in strategy are emerging between the carriers. Jetstar is favouring domestic flights, partially replicating its extensive domestic operations in Australia and New Zealand whereas AirAsia has a greater regional emphasis, reflecting its experience in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Peach is more conservative but building both a domestic and international network.

 

With Jetstar talking of having 100 aircraft in the country by the end of the decade and AirAsia discussing widebody flights, there is room for strategies and focuses to change as the carriers find their place and compete with each other, all the while as the North Asia market does nothing but benefit.

 

AirAsia Japan's preliminary launch schedule, loaded into OAG but not yet into the GDS, shows the carrier launching on 01-Aug-2012 with twice daily Tokyo Narita-Fukuoka service, daily Tokyo Narita-Okinawa service and four times daily Tokyo Narita-Sapporo service. Jetstar Japan, which is launching on 03-Jul-2012, will already have been on those three routes for a month when AirAsia Japan enters.

 

Peach does not operate any of those routes as it is based at Osaka Kansai. (Jetstar's primary base will be Tokyo Narita with a smaller presence at Tokyo Osaka.) AirAsia Japan received its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) in Feb-2012.

 

Full analysis here: http://www.centreforaviation.com/analysis/airasia-japan-plans-launch-with-domestic-and-korean-flights-72275

[Naim 6]

Once they start flying to Russia's Far East, I'll take a serious look.

[Zamir 0]

AirAsia Japan to Start Operation from Aug 2012: Routes/Schedules Details

 

by JL

Update at 2250GMT 11APR12

AirAsia Japan, the low-cost division of AirAsia as well as joint-venture from ANA, is set to launch operation on 01AUG12. Based on OAG‘s Database from OAG Schedules iNet, Tokyo Narita-based AirAsia Japan’s IATA Code is “JW”.

 

The airline will initially begin operation on domestic routes to Fukuoka, Okinawa and Sapporostarting 01AUG12, followed by International service to Busan and Seoul from 01OCT12. The airline’s planned operational routes and schedules made its debut in OAG Schedules iNet’s weekly schedule update on the week of 08APR12. Reservation for routes and flights listed below are currently not available as the airline has kept quiet on these information.

Tokyo Narita – Fukuoka eff 01AUG12, 2 Daily

JW7101 NRT0700 – 0900FUK 320 D

JW7103 NRT1140 – 1340FUK 320 D

JW7102 FUK0925 – 1115NRT 320 D

JW7104 FUK1405 – 1555NRT 320 D

Tokyo Narita – Okinawa eff 01AUG12, 1 Daily

JW7121 NRT1545 – 1845OKA 320 D

JW7122 OKA1915 – 2150NRT 320 D

Tokyo Narita – Sapporo eff 01AUG12, 4 Daily

JW7013 NRT0645 – 0820CTS 320 D

JW7007 NRT0745 – 0920CTS 320 D

JW7009 NRT1145 – 1320CTS 320 D

JW7011 NRT1635 – 1810CTS 320 D

JW7014 CTS0845 – 1020NRT 320 x5

JW7014 CTS0855 – 1030NRT 320 5

JW7002 CTS0945 – 1120NRT 320 D

JW7004 CTS1345 – 1520NRT 320 D

JW7012 CTS1835 – 2010NRT 320 D

Tokyo Narita – Busan eff 01OCT12, 1 Daily

JW5103 NRT1140 – 1400PUS 320 D

JW5103 PUS1430 – 1630NRT 320 135

JW5103 PUS1435 – 1635NRT 320 x135

Flight number for PUS NRT sector is expected to be JW5104, this may be due to filing error.

Tokyo Narita – Seoul Incheon eff 01OCT12, 1 Daily

JW5101 NRT1655 – 1920ICN 320 26

JW5101 NRT1700 – 1925ICN 320 x26

JW5102 ICN1945 – 2205NRT 320 26

JW5102 ICN1950 – 2210NRT 320 x26

Above mentioned routes, frequencies, launch dates and schedules are subject to change.

Airline and Airport delegates who are attending Routes Asia in Chengdu, China (15APR12 – 17APR12), interested in OAG Schedueles iNet and other various OAG Products, as well as receiving in-depth knowledge on how to utilize Routesonline’s Route Exchange platform, can visit stand 41/42 for additional information.

 

http://airlineroute.net/2012/04/11/jw-aug12/

[Zamir 0]

AirAsia Japan 1st A320 JA01AJ (MSN 5153)

http://xfw-spotter.blogspot.com/2012/05/a320-214-air-asia-japan-f-wwdh-ja01aj.html

[Mike P 0]

Anyone got the email from AirAsia? And so the domestic flights are from NRT, not HND!

[JuliusWong 0]

Full schedule is out at http://www.businesstraveller.asia/asia-pacific/news/air-asia-japan-to-begin-operations-august-1

[Mike P 0]

Then don't offer NRT - KIX?

[flee 5]

AirAsia enters LCC fray via ¥5 flights

 

The surprise discount campaign announced by AirAsia Japan Co. on Wednesday has been an instant success and drawn much media coverage.

 

The budget airline said the 10,000 one-way tickets it started selling online from midnight priced at ¥5 for routes from Narita to Sapporo and from Fukuoka to Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, sold out within 10 hours.

 

At Wednesday's news conference, the airline also announced much lower minimum prices, ranging from ¥4,580 to ¥6,680 for flights from Narita to New Chitose Airport in Sapporo, Narita to Fukuoka and Narita to Naha. The prices are up to 50 percent cheaper than those offered by major airlines, a spokesman for AirAsia told The Japan Times on Thursday.

 

The aggressive promotional techniques of AirAsia, established in August and affiliated with All Nippon Airways Co., underline how competition among domestic low-cost carriers has intensified.

 

Following the carrier's discount campaign announcement, rival Jetstar immediately slashed its own ticket prices to undercut AirAsia's on the three routes. Jetstar is affiliated with Japan Airlines Corp.

 

AirAsia is the third LCC formed to tap Japan's largely underdeveloped budget airline sector, after Peach Aviation Co, another ANA unit based in the Kansai region, and Jetstar.

 

AirAsia President Kazuyuki Iwakata told the news conference that the carrier hopes to fly 1 million passengers in its first year, adding it also plans to launch low-cost international flights.

 

Peach Aviation was launched in February and started domestic flights the following month from Kansai International Airport to Fukuoka and Sapporo. It also launched international services to Seoul in May. Jetstar, meanwhile, is set to start domestic flights in July on the same routes as Peach Aviation and AirAsia.

 

"We think the tougher competition will help to expand the sector. The more people become familiar with low-cost carriers, the more they will use us," a Jetstar representative said.

 

Jeststar's minimum fares for flights departing from Narita will cost ¥4,490 to Sapporo, ¥5,090 to Fukuoka and ¥6,590 to Naha. If customers manage to find a lower price among its competitors, the carrier will offer a 10 percent discount on that fare. Peach also plans to cut the fare on its Kansai-Fukuoka flights so they are as cheap as Jetstar's.

 

However, analysts warn that cheap tickets mean the airlines may also offer only basic services. LCCs operate with fewer flight attendants and charge check-in fees on any baggage and seat assignments.

 

Their smaller fleets also make them more vulnerable to cancellations or delays due to technical problems, and they are not required to rebook passengers on other carriers or offer accommodations.

 

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20120601a2.html

[Mike P 0]

The newly launched flights would definitely not make money, but it would gained long terms reputation and later increase in the revenue and profits... Good Job, TF!

[flee 5]

Interesting experience by a member of ANA staff, Kota Suzuki, when he was seconded to AirAsia.

 

Every day in Malaysia and in AirAsia is a learning process and a new experience for me; from the food to the various languages spoken to the people, various cultures, work culture, the list goes on. I like nasi lemak, spicy curries, tried my first coconut water, tried ordering in Malay at a mamak stall (“Bang, roti satu, teh tarik satu, terima kasih), tried blending as a local by speaking to the taxi driver in Malay, ran my first marathon at the Borneo International Marathon, just too many to list down.

 

Read his blog post, Konnichiwa Allstars! here: http://blog.airasia....ichiwa-allstars

[JingKai Seah 0]

AirAsia Japan landing at Narita~ Ex ANA plane~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXkpnXboG24&feature=g-u-u

[flee 5]

Apparently this 21½ year old plane (MSN 151) suffered a tail strike at Sendai before. It was used for AirAsia Japan crew training and will be retired soon.

[JingKai Seah 0]

This the first landing of AirAsia Japan A320 at Narita~

Love the flower pods reverse thrust

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA-3I6bdEPo&feature=context-gfa

[flee 5]

Note the position where the reggo is printed - different from AK, where it is between the door and the last window.

[JingKai Seah 0]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6l3dO6ch2o&feature=g-u-u

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

A revised livery for AirAsia Japan.

 

[Johan Z 0]

Looks like they learned something from MH during share swap: how to screw up a good looking livery.

[flee 5]

Looks like they learned something from MH during share swap: how to screw up a good looking livery.

Agree - it looks like they like that red AirAsia tail so much that they forget it works best only if the fuselage is in white.

[Waiping 12]

I m 50/50 with the livery but the font I like.

[Naim 6]

Must be the Japan thing ... look at Peach.

 

[flee 5]

IMHO Peach livery is classy, better than AirAsia Japan's.

[BC Tam 2]

IMHO Peach livery is classy, .....

Wonder if there is a Japanese MW equivalent where people can go Peaching about it if they don't like the livery

In the same vein, hope the lady flight attendants are not referred to as ..... Peaches

[Naim 6]

You are in fine form tonight, BC, hahaha!

[KK Lee 5]

You are in fine form tonight, BC, hahaha!

 

As always

[alberttky 0]

As AirAsia Japan nears its first full month of service, its attention is turning to what international markets to serve. While the carrier had previously filed schedules to offer a daily return from each Seoul and Busan from 01-Oct-2012, CEO Kazuyuki Iwakata tells CAPA those services have been pushed back to the second half of Oct-2012 at the earliest following a delay in the delivery of its third A320.

 

In addition to Korea in the international market, Mr Iwakata expects AirAsia Japan to focus on mainland China as well as Taiwan. In addition to the two destinations offering high demand, they are Japan's second and fourth largest international markets. Open skies agreements have also recently been signed, with Taiwan in Nov-2011 and China in Aug-2012, a further testament to Japan's breathtaking liberalisation that is ushering a new era in once stagnate North Asia.

 

In China Mr Iwakata is interested in under-served cities and there are no shortage of possibilities: the less entrepreneurial push of legacy carriers in the market has resulted in over two-thirds of all seats going to or from Beijing and Shanghai, leaving the country ripe for a lean carrier in an airline group known for strong marketing in opening new city-pairs.

 

AirAsia Japan has previously stated it expects approximately one-fifth of seats, over time, to be deployed in international markets.

 

Continue reading at http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/airasia-japan-prepares-for-south-korean-services-and-evaluates-under-served-cities-in-china-80909