Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Jetstar Japan announces Narita – Hong Kong.

On April 7th, Jetstar Japan [GK/JJP] announced that they will commence Tokyo/Narita [NRT/RJAA] – Hong Kong [HKG/VHHH] on June 1st. It becomes the Narita-based LCC's second international route after Osaka/Kansai [KIX/RJBB] – Hong Kong (Jetstar Japan goes international with Kansai – Hong Kong.), which was started on February 28th, and the first overseas link from their home base. The new service will start out with three weekly flights, and will gradually increase to daily from September 1st.

Airbus A320-232(SL) JA18JJ approaching Narita. The fleet of 180-seat A320s is capped at 20 for now, and new services will come from increasing utilization. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

180-seat Airbus A320s will be deployed. One-way Starter fares, which include a seven-kilogram carry-on baggage allowance, will start from 7,500 JPY, excluding taxes and a fuel surcharge. Tickets will go on sale on April 8th at 1400 JST, and a 990-JPY promotional fare will be offered in limited numbers.

Flight Schedule:
Narita – Hong Kong NEW 3 weekly with A320-200. (June/1 - Jul/17)
GK21 NRT 0900 – 1240 HKG 32A/320 Mo/Tu/Th
GK22 HKG 1340 – 1900 NRT 32A/320 Mo/Tu/Th

Narita – Hong Kong 6 weekly with A320-200. (July/18 - Aug/7, Aug/17 - 31)
GK21 NRT 0900 – 1240 HKG 32A/320 Mo/Tu/Th/Fr
GK21 NRT 0935 – 1315 HKG 32A/320 We/Su
GK22 HKG 1340 – 1900 NRT 32A/320 Mo/Tu/Th/Fr
GK22 HKG 1415 – 1935 NRT 32A/320 We/Su

Narita – Hong Kong 4 weekly with A320-200. (Aug/8 - 16)
GK21 NRT 0900 – 1240 HKG 32A/320 Mo/Th/Fr
GK21 NRT 0935 – 1315 HKG 32A/320 Su
GK22 HKG 1340 – 1900 NRT 32A/320 Mo/Th/Fr
GK22 HKG 1415 – 1935 NRT 32A/320 Su

Narita – Hong Kong 1 daily with A320-200. (Sep/1 - Oct/24)
GK21 NRT 0900 – 1240 HKG 32A/320 Mo/Tu/Fr
GK21 NRT 0935 – 1315 HKG 32A/320 We/Th/Sa/Su
GK22 HKG 1340 – 1900 NRT 32A/320 Mo/Tu/Fr
GK22 HKG 1415 – 1935 NRT 32A/320 We/Th/Sa/Su

Jetstar Japan becomes the third LCC to enter the Tokyo – Hong Kong market, after Vanilla Air [JW/VNL], which operates twice daily from Narita (Vanilla Air inaugurates Hong Kong.), and Hong Kong Express Airways [UO/HKE] (d.b.a. HK Express), which operates twice daily from Tokyo/Haneda [HND/RJTT] and once daily from Narita. Full-service carriers All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA], Cathay Pacific Airways [CX/CPA], and Japan Airlines [JL/JAL] all serve the route from both Tokyo airports.

Meanwhile, the Kansai – Hong Kong service seems to be doing well so far, with load factors reportedly hovering well above 80%. Although they were expecting 60% of the passengers to be non-Japanese, that figure is more than 80%, according to the airline. The Japanese unit of the Australian-born LCC is also expanding its domestic network, having launched Nagoya/Chubu Centrair [NGO/RJGG] – Okinawa/Naha [OKA/ROAH] on March 29th (Jetstar Japan commences Nagoya – Okinawa.).

In other news, long-time Jetstar Group executive Gerry Turner has been appointed the new CEO of Jetstar Japan effective April 1st. Mr. Turner, a former Ryanair [FR/RYR] executive from Ireland who helped launch Jetstar Airways [JQ/JST] with now Qantas Airways [QF/QFA] boss Alan Joyce in 2004, replaces Miyuki Suzuki, who stepped down on March 31st for another executive role, understood to be at Cisco Japan. As Japanese carriers are required to have a Japanese president, Masaru Kataoka, Jetstar Group's regional general manager in Japan, has been promoted to become Chairman and Representative Director.

Source: Jetstar Japan, April 1st. (in Japanese)
Source: Sydney Morning Herald, April 1st. (in English)
Source: Jetstar Japan, April 7th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, April 7th. (in Japanese)

No comments:

Post a Comment