Notice: Changes coming to ZipanguFlyer.

Effective October 25th, 2015, ZipanguFlyer will be changing coverage.

Boeing 787-8s of ANA and JAL at Haneda. Directly and indirectly, the two major carriers together still control, or have influence over, all domestic slots at Japan's most important airport serving the capital. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Until now, this blog has covered most, if not all of the news of airlines registered in Japan. However, due to my lack of time, I will be narrowing down coverage to mostly LCCs and non-ANA/JAL carriers. Local commuter airlines flying only specific essential air links will also be omitted.

Airlines that will continue to be covered:
AirAsia Japan [DJ], AIRDO [HD/ADO] (d.b.a. Air Do), Fuji Dream Airlines [JH/FDA], IBEX Airlines [FW/IBX], Jetstar Japan [GK/JJP], Peach Aviation [MM/APJ], Skymark Airlines [BC/SKY], Skynet Asia Airways [6J/SNJ] (d.b.a. Solaseed Air), Spring Airlines Japan [IJ/SJO], Star Flyer [7G/SFJ], Vanilla Air [JW/VNL]

Airlines that will no longer be regularly covered:
Air Japan [NQ/AJX], All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA], Amakusa Airlines [AHX], ANA Wings [EH/AKX], First Flying [DAK], Hokkaido Air System [HC/NTH], J-Air [XM/JLJ], Japan Air Commuter [3X/JAC], Japan Airlines [JL/JAL], Japan Transocean Air [NU/JTA], New Central Airservice [CUK], New Japan Aviation [NJA], Nippon Cargo Airlines [KZ/NCA], Oriental Air Bridge [OC/ORC], Ryukyu Air Commuter [RAC], Toho Air Service [THK]

Topics of ANA and JAL are already well covered by various media, while demand for news regarding local niche commuter airlines has been minimal, at least in English.

In the meantime, I will be experimenting giving the blog a personal touch. Thank you for your support and understanding. Happy travels!

ANA takes over Air Do's unprofitable secondary routes.

AIRDO [HD/ADO] (d.b.a. Air Do) will be withdrawing from four regional domestic routes from Sapporo/New Chitose [CTS/RJCC] effective March 29th, the beginning of the Summer 2015 timetable, and partner All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA] will fill in. From the capital of Hokkaido, Air Do currently operates twice daily to Fukushima [FKS/RJSF] and Niigata [KIJ/RJSN], and a daily round-trip each to Komatsu [KMQ/RJNK] and Toyama [TOY/RJNT], but all will be reduced to a single ANA round-trip on each route.

Boeing 767-33A/ER JA01HD started life with Belgian start-up CityBird in February 1998 before joining Air Do in April 2000. Unlike the 737-500s, which will be retired by January 2016, all four 767s will be repainted into their latest livery by June this year. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

New Chitose – Fukushima will be flown by 176-seat (all economy) Boeing 737-800s, Komatsu and Toyama routes by 166/167-seat (8 Premium Class and 158/159 economy) 737-800s, and the Niigata link by 74-seat Bombardier DHC-8-400Qs of ANA Holdings' commuter subsidiary ANA Wings [EH/AKX].

Flight Schedule: 
New Chitose – Fukushima NEW 1 daily with 737-800. (Mar/29 - Oct/24)
NH1114 CTS 1645 – 1800 FKS 73H Daily
NH1113 FKS 0950 – 1110 CTS 73H Daily

New Chitose – Komatsu NEW 1 daily with 737-800. (Mar/29 - Oct/24)
NH1174 CTS 1355 – 1530 KMQ 73H Daily
NH1173 KMQ 1140 – 1310 CTS 73H Daily 

New Chitose – Niigata up to 2 daily with DHC-8-400Q. (Mar/29 - Oct/24)
NH1858/EH1858 CTS 1230 – 1350 KIJ DH4 Daily *Existing service. ANA Wings.
NH1860/EH1860 CTS 1600 – 1710 KIJ DH4 Daily *Jun/1 - Sep/30. ANA Wings.
NH1857/EH1857 KIJ 0740 – 0900 CTS DH4 Daily *Existing service. ANA Wings.
NH1859/EH1859 KIJ 1120 – 1235 CTS DH4 Daily *Jun/1 - Sep/30. ANA Wings.

New Chitose – Toyama NEW 1 daily with 737-800. (Mar/29 - Oct/24)
NH1182 CTS 1340 – 1510 TOY 73H Daily
NH1181 TOY 1140 – 1305 CTS 73H Daily

ANA withdrew from the Fukushima, Komatsu, and Toyama routes in November 2009, virtually transferring them to lower-cost Air Do, which is 14% owned by ANA Holdings, parent of Japan's largest carrier. Instead ANA put its code on these three routes, like with all other Air Do flights. However, due to weak demand, they are ironically being transferred back to ANA. For the New Chitose – Niigata route, ANA Wings has operated a single round-trip alongside Air Do's double-daily flights, but with no aircraft up-gauge after Air Do's suspension, it translates to a 77% capacity cut. A seasonal second flight has been loaded between June 1st and September 30th.

Boeing 737-881(WL) JA65AN taxies for departure from New Chitose Airport near Sapporo. ANA Group's Boeing narrow-body fleet is comprised of 30 737-800s, two 737-700ERs, 12 737-700s, and 17 737-500s, with six more 737-800s on order. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Meanwhile, the only increase by Air Do for the Summer 2015 timetable is an addition of two more round-trips on the New Chitose – Sendai [SDJ/RJSS] route; hence the fleet is being reduced by one aircraft, with the return of a 126-seat 737-500 to ANA in April. Their seventh 144-seat 737-700 will arrive from ANA in September, and the two remaining 737-500s will be retired by January 2016.

Air Do's axing of these secondary routes leaves the Hokkaido-based carrier with only Kobe [UKB/RJBE], Okayama [OKJ/RJOB], Sendai, and Tokyo/Haneda [HND/RJTT] from New Chitose. On the other hand, they seem to be faring better with their secondary Hokkaido routes from Haneda to Asahikawa [AKJ/RJEC], Hakodate [HKD/RJCH], Kushiro [KUH/RJCK], Memambetsu [MMB/RJCM], and Obihiro [OBO/RJCB]. It may translate to the reality that even though Air Do may be lower-cost than ANA or JAL, it is still not easy to make both ends meet with rural routes from cities other than Tokyo.

Source: Air Do, January 21st. (in Japanese)
Source: All Nippon Airways, January 21st. (in Japanese) 
Source: Aviation Wire, January 23rd. (in Japanese)

ANA returns to Aomori with Osaka and Sapporo flights.

On July 1st, All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) resumed scheduled service at Aomori (AOJ/RJSA) with three daily round-trips to and from Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO) and two to and from Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC). Operated by subsidiary ANA Wings' (EH/AKX) 74-seat Bombardier DHC-8-400Qs, the flights mark the return of now Japan's largest airline by passenger volume to Honshu's northernmost airport after a 11-year hiatus.

Bombardier DHC-8-402Q JA845A arriving at Aomori from Sapporo's New Chitose as NH1853 on July 1st, the inaugural day. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The inaugural flight out of Aomori, NH1852, service to Itami, was operated by DHC-8-402Q JA856A with a load of 73 passengers. The aircraft had been ferried in to Aomori the night before. Sistership JA853A became the first to arrive, as NH1851 from Itami, and was greeted by a water-cannon salute.

Flight schedule (July 1st - October 25th):
Osaka/Itami – Aomori NEW 3 daily with DHC-8-400Q. *Operated by ANA Wings.
NH1851 ITM 0815 – 1000 AOJ DH4 Daily
NH1853 ITM 1155 – 1340 AOJ DH4 Daily
NH1855 ITM 1910 – 2055 AOJ DH4 Daily
NH1852 AOJ 0805 – 1000 ITM DH4 Daily
NH1854 AOJ 1310 – 1505 ITM DH4 Daily
NH1856 AOJ 1740 – 1935 ITM DH4 Daily

Aomori – Sapporo/New Chitose NEW 2 daily with DHC-8-400Q. *Operated by ANA Wings.
NH1897 AOJ 1030 – 1120 CTS DH4 Daily
NH1899 AOJ 1510 – 1600 CTS DH4 Daily
NH1898 CTS 1150 – 1240 AOJ DH4 Daily
NH1900 CTS 1615 – 1705 AOJ DH4 Daily
 
A ceremony took place at Aomori Airport, attended by Aomori Prefecture Governor Shingo Mimura, Aomori City Governor Hiroshi Shikanai, and ANA's Executive Vice President for Sales and Marketing Takashi Shiki. ANA President Osamu Shinobe visited Mr. Mimura one day before. "We've been waiting for this moment. We would like to strengthen our partnerships with the Kansai (Greater Osaka) region to promote tourism and help the route grow," said Mr. Mimura, adding "Ahead of that lies another big ambition," hoping for ANA's resumption of their Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) link. Mr. Shiki responded, "We have a big international network from Haneda now (ANA's Summer 2014 international expansion.). We also share the desire to open up Aomori's charm to the world."

The brand-new ANA counters at Aomori with celebration flower decorations. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

 
Aomori has seen turbulent times in recent years. In FY2003, its annual passenger number recorded 1.41 million, however, after the merger of Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) and Japan Air System (JD/JAS) was complete, ANA withdrew from Aomori in April that year, axing its link to Haneda and shifting the precious slots to more lucrative routes. Skymark Airlines (BC/SKY) briefly filled the vacancy but withdrew in November. JAL's financial woes forced the airline to cut its link to Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) in 2007 and Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG) in 2010. Dealing a further blow, the opening of the super-efficient Shinkansen (bullet train) to Aomori in 2010 followed shortly by the 3.11 Great East Japan Earthquake reduced the number to merely 800,000 for FY2010.

The Nagoya link was restarted by Fuji Dream Airlines (JH/FDA) with service (CoachFlyer JH366: AOJ – NKM on Fuji Dream Airlines' Embraer E175.) to its older airport at Komaki (NKM/RJNA) in 2011. Other than the ANA and FDA flights, Aomori is served by Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) with three-times daily each to New Chitose and Itami (operated by J-Air), and six-times daily to Haneda, while Korean Air (KE/KAL) maintains a three-times weekly service to Seoul/Incheon (ICN/RKSI) (CoachFlyer KE768: AOJ - ICN on Korean Air's Boeing 737.), the prefecture's sole scheduled international route. Passenger numbers slightly increased to 850,000 for FY2013.

Arriving passengers were greeted by ANA banners promoting the Aomori launch. To the right is a miniature version of Aomori's renowned Nebuta. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

For ANA, the resumption is also a strategy to experiment potential markets in Japan's mature domestic market (at least at ANA/JAL's costs) where the population has started to decline. ANA's most recent new domestic destination was Iwakuni (IWK/RJOI) in eastern Yamaguchi Prefecture, when the joint U.S. Air Force (USAF) - Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) base was opened up for civilian flights in December 2012.

Aomori hopes ANA's comeback will boost demand. In 2011, when ANA entered the Akita (AXT/RJSK) – Itami market in competition with JAL, passengers carried on the route increased from 100,000 in FY2011 to 170,000 in FY2013. On the other hand, airports such as Yamaguchi-Ube (UBJ/RJDC) saw passengers decline after JAL entered the ANA-dominated market in FY2002; the figure was 960,000 for FY2003 but had decreased to 850,000 in FY2013. Prefecture officials hope it doesn't "end up with both carriers losing money and terminating the route," and JAL's Aomori Office chief Yutaka Fukuda said "There's certainly potential demand. But two carriers serving the route doesn't mean the market will grow overnight. We need to make efforts."

Aomori is one of the most beautiful and diverse prefectures of Japan, but remains an under-served and under-explored tourist destination. From the Hakkoda Mountains, which gets heavier annual snowfall than anywhere else in Japan, to the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shirakami-Sanchi, picturesque Lake Towada to the nature abundant Shimokita Peninsula, Aomori is filled with fascinating vast landscapes. On the culture side, it is home to the famous Nebuta festival, when the entire prefecture goes for celebration in August, as well as the Sannai-Maruyama Ruins, one of the oldest archaeological sites in Japan dating back to 3900 B.C., and much more. Food is no exception, with the Tsugaru cuisine and the Nanbu cuisine, and forget not the fresh fish (Sashimi and Sushi) from the surrounding seas and the herbs from the mountains. There are countless Onsens (public hot spring baths) as well. 

Reference: Yomiuri Shimbun, June 29th. (in Japanese)
Reference: Yomiuri Shimbun, July 2nd. (in Japanese) 

*Post edited/updated on July 5th.

New Central Airservice launches Miyakejima.

On April 2nd, New Central Airservice (CUK) launched Tokyo/Chofu (RJTF) - Miyakejima (MYE/RJTQ) intra-Tokyo island service. 19-seat Dornier Do 228s operate the route three times daily. One-way fare has been set at 17,200 JPY per person, while a round-trip ticket is sold at 31,500 JPY. As an essential air link connecting the remote island and mainland Tokyo, the service is subsidized by the Government of Tokyo.

Dornier Do 228-212 JA33CA of the Chofu-based commuter carrier. (Photo: New Central Airservice)

Timetable:
CUK401 RJTF 0915 – 1005 MYE D28 Daily
CUK405 RJTF 1110 – 1200 MYE D28 Daily
CUK407 RJTF 1440 – 1530 MYE D28 Daily
CUK402 MYE 1030 – 1120 RJTF D28 Daily
CUK406 MYE 1230 – 1320 RJTF D28 Daily
CUK408 MYE 1600 – 1650 RJTF D28 Daily

All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) withdrew from the one-time daily Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) - Miyakejima service it had been operating since 1966 this past Monday on March 31st. It was operated by ANA Wings' (EH/AKX) 56-seat Bombardier DHC-8-300Q (ANA quietly retires the Bombardier DHC-8-300Q.), which was retired on that day.

New Central Airservice's intra-Tokyo island network. (Image: New Central Airservice)

Founded in 1978 and based at Chofu, in northwestern Tokyo, New Central Airservice flies scheduled commuter flights to the Izu Islands with a fleet of five Dornier Do 228s. Kouzushima (RJAZ) has been served since 1992, Niijima (RJAN) since 1979, and Oshima (OIM/RJTO) since 1984. The company was the launch customer for the 'New Generation' Dornier Do 228NG (New Central Airservice receives 2nd Dornier 228NG.).

Source: New Central Airservice, April 2nd. (in Japanese)

ANA quietly retires the Bombardier DHC-8-300Q.

As all spotlight is on the last passenger Boeing 747 retiring from Japan, All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) also phased out its last Bombardier 'Q300' on March 31st.

Bombardier/de Havilland Canada DHC-8-315Q JA804K departs Haneda. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

DHC-8-315Q JA804K operated ANA Wings (EH/AKX) flight EH1849 (marketed as NH1849), service from Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) to Miyakejima (MYE/RJTQ), but ironically, after leaving Haneda almost three hours late at 1412, it had to return and the flight was canceled due to excessively high concentrations of sulfur dioxide on the volcanic island this day. Every person on the island is required to have a gas mask at hand at all times. The aircraft arrived back in Tokyo at 1529.

Staff pose in front of JA804K after returning to Haneda. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

JA804K is the last remaining of five originally acquired by Air Nippon Network (EH/AKX), the predecessor of ANA Wings. The first of the type was delivered in March 2001 initially to replace Air Nippon's (EL/ANK) Japan-made NAMC YS-11s flying regional routes from Haneda as well as intra-Hokkaido flights from Sapporo/Okadama (OKD/RJCO). Its inaugural flight was Haneda - Oshima (OIM/RJTO) on July 1st, 2001. JA804K was delivered on January 10th, 2003. 

JA802K 'Himawari' and JA803K 'Suzuran'. (Photo: Air Nippon Network)

Unlike most other ANA aircraft, these were delivered in flower-themed special liveries dubbed 'Flower Props'; JA801K (1st aircraft) was Tsubaki (Japanese camellia: Camellia japonica), JA802K (2nd) was Himawari (sunflower: Helianthus annuus), JA803K (3rd) was Suzuran (Lily of the Valley: Convallaria majalis), JA804K (4th) was Cosmos (cosmos: Cosmos), and JA805K (5th) was Hamanasu (Japanese rose: Rosa rugosa). All were repainted in ANA's 'Triton Blue' livery by March 2010.

3QQ3 (pronounced like 'thank you Q3' in Japanese) logo, along with Izu Oshima and Miyakejima's mascots. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

The retirement helps standardize ANA's turboprop fleet on the DHC-8-400Q. Started back on March 4th, 1966, their Miyakejima route has been flown ever since except for an eight-year suspension after the island's volcano erupted in July 2000. After resumption, load factors were around 30 - 40% and ANA decided to terminate the service effective April 1st. The Tokyo government-subsidized island link will now be taken over by New Central Airservice (CUK) on April 2nd (New Central Airservice receives 2nd Dornier 228NG.) when they launch Tokyo/Chofu (RJTF) - Miyakejima three times daily with Dornier 228s.

So, ANA is retiring its smallest (56 seats) and biggest (565 seats) airplanes on the same day.

Source: FlyTeam, March 31st. (in Japanese) 
Source: Aviation Wire, March 31st. (in Japanese)

Air Do retires 'Bear Do'; five Boeing 737-500s remain.

AIRDO's (HD/ADO) (d.b.a. Air Do) first special-theme aircraft Boeing 737-54K JA8196 'Bear Do' (yes, it rhymes) flew its last revenue service today on March 14th with HD024, from Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC) to Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT). Carrying 121 passengers, who received 'Bear Do' memorabilia and a last flight certificate upon boarding, the flight departed New Chitose at 1406 and arrived at Haneda at 1548, local time.

Boeing 737-54K JA8196 'Bear Do' arrives at Haneda. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

JA8196 was originally delivered to All Nippon Airways' (NH/ANA) now-defunct subsidiary Air Nippon (EL/ANK) new from the manufacturer on October 23rd, 1996, and was leased to Air Do in March 2009. It was painted in the 'Bear Do' livery from the beginning and entered service on April 2nd, 2009. Since then, the 126-seat B737-500 has accumulated a total of 9924 flights connecting Hokkaido with other cities in Japan. Now, JA8196 will be returned to ANA Holdings and is expected to return to service with ANA Wings (EH/AKX). Its replacement, B737-781(WL) JA08AN (Air Do receives fifth Boeing 737-700.), entered service on March 10th.

Air Do's mascot 'Bear Do' was present at the gate. (Photo: Air Do)

In 2012, Air Do started receiving larger 144-seat B737-700s, which they claim are about 10% more fuel efficient than the B737-500s on their sectors. Leased from 14% owner ANA Holdings, the B737-700 fleet will eventually grow to nine to replace the remaining five B737-500s, excluding 'Bear Do', by January 2016. The Hokkaido-based airline is also evaluating the larger B737-900/800 for acquisition in fiscal year 2015.

Most B737-500s with ANA are staying for a few years more, as to-be-successor Mitsubishi Regional Jet's (MRJ) first delivery has now been pushed back to the second quarter of 2017.

Source: Air Do @ Facebook (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, March 14th. (in Japanese)

ANA Boeing 737-500 JA353K leaves Japan.

On January 24th, another All Nippon Airways' (NH/ANA) Boeing 737-500 quietly left Japan. B737-5YO JA353K departed Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) at 1336 local time as flight NH9434, and after making stops at Guam/Antonio B. Won Pat (GUM/PGUM), Majuro (MAJ/PKMJ) of the Marshall Islands, and Honolulu (HNL/PHNL), it arrived at Pinal Airpark (MZJ/KMZJ) in Marana, Arizona, U.S.A. at 1423 local time on January 25th, about 41 hours after leaving Japanese soil. It is likely to be parted out and scrapped.

Sister Boeing 737-54K JA306K at Fukuoka. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

JA353K was originally delivered to Rio Sul (SL/RSL) of Brazil on December 15, 1993. First Security Bank of Utah bought the aircraft in February 2001 as N104NK, and then passed it on to Air Nippon (EL/ANK), which registered the aircraft JA353K on March 7th, 2001. Transferred to ANA's then relatively-low-cost-subsidiary Air Next (7A/NXA) in March 2006, it eventually became part of ANA Wings' (EH/AKX) fleet when Air Next along with Air Central (NV/CRF) were merged into Air Nippon Network (EH/AKX) to form ANA Wings, as part of ANA's reorganization and simplification of its subsidiaries, in October 2010.

The aircraft was the last 133-seat Boeing 737-500 in the ANA Wings fleet, making it an odd-ball where others are configured with 126. ANA currently has 14 of the variant remaining, all with ANA Wings plying domestic regional flights, and plans to replace the fleet with additional mainline-ANA B737-800s as well as Mitsubishi MRJ90s, of which 15 are on firm order for deliveries starting in spring 2017.

ANA releases Summer 2014 domestic schedule.

On January 22nd, All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) announced their Summer 2014 plan for domestic flights, effective March 30th. They will be resuming Aomori (AOJ/RJSA) on July 1st after a 11-year hiatus.

Boeing 777-381 JA753A departing Haneda on another domestic trunk flight. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

New Routes/Resumptions:
Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO) - Aomori new 3 daily with DH4 from July 1.
NH(EH)1851 ITM 0815 - 1000 AOJ DH4 Daily *From July 1. Operated by AKX.
NH(EH)1853 ITM 1155 - 1340 AOJ DH4 Daily *From July 1. Operated by AKX.
NH(EH)1855 ITM 1910 - 2055 AOJ DH4 Daily *From July 1. Operated by AKX.
NH(EH)1852 AOJ 0805 - 1000 ITM DH4 Daily *From July 1. Operated by AKX.
NH(EH)1854 AOJ 1310 - 1505 ITM DH4 Daily *From July 1. Operated by AKX.
NH(EH)1856 AOJ 1740 - 1935 ITM DH4 Daily *From July 1. Operated by AKX.

 Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC) - Aomori new 2 daily with DH4 from July 1.
NH(EH)1898 CTS 1150 - 1240 AOJ DH4 Daily *From July 1. Operated by AKX.
NH(EH)1900 CTS 1615 - 1705 AOJ DH4 Daily *From July 1. Operated by AKX.
NH(EH)1897 AOJ 1030 - 1120 CTS DH4 Daily *From July 1. Operated by AKX.
NH(EH)1899 AOJ 1510 - 1600 CTS  DH4 Daily *From July 1. Operated by AKX.

Frequency Increases:
Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) - Ishigaki (ISG/ROIG) from seasonal service to 1 daily.
Fukuoka - Sendai (SDJ/RJSS) from 1 to 2 daily. *Including code-share with IBX.
Itami - Fukushima (FKS/RJSF) from 1 to 2 daily. *Including code-share with IBX.
Itami - Miyazaki (KMI/RJFM) from 5 to 6 daily. *Including code-share with IBX.
Itami - New Chitose from 1 to 3 daily. *4 daily September 1 - October 25. Including code-share with IBX.
Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) - Hakodate (HKD/RJCH)from 2 to 3 daily.
Haneda - Iwami (IWJ/RJOW) from 1 to 2 daily.
Haneda - Tottori (TTJ/RJOR) from 4 to 5 daily.

Frequency Reductions:
Fukuoka - Komatsu (KMQ/RJNK) from 4 to 3 daily. *Including code-share with IBX.
Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG) - Sendai from 5 to 4 daily. *Including code-share with IBX.
Chubu Centrair - Fukuoka from 9 to 6 daily. *Including code-share with IBX. 
Itami - Fukuoka from 10 to 8 daily. *Up to 7 daily from July 1.
Itami - Niigata (KIJ/RJSN) from 6 to 5 daily. *From July 1. Including code-share with IBX.
Itami - Oita (OIT/RJFO) from 4 to 3 daily. *Including code-share with IBX.
Itami - Sendai from 8 to 7 daily. *Up to 6 daily from July 1. Including code-share with IBX.
Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) - New Chitose from 5 to 3 daily.
Haneda - Yonago (YGJ/RJOH) from 6 to 5 daily. *For only June 1 - September 30.
New Chitose - Sendai from 5 to 4 daily. *Including code-share with IBX.

Suspensions:
Haneda - Miyakejima (MYE/RJTQ). *From April 1.
Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA) - Hiroshima (HIJ/RJOA).

Not much new except for the resumption of Aomori service from July 1. Routes and frequencies are being swapped with IBEX Airlines (FW/IBX), which operates like a feeder carrier for ANA. The Miyakejima service is being transferred to New Central Airservice (CUK), allowing ANA Wings (EH/AKX) to retire its last remaining Bombardier DHC-8-300Q.

Source: All Nippon Airways (in Japanese)

New Central Airservice receives 2nd Dornier 228NG.

On January 16th, New Central Airservice's (CUK) second Dornier Do 228NG, its fifth of the type, was delivered from Germany to the airline's maintenance base at Ryugasaki Airfield (ICAO: none) in Chiba prefecture registered as D-CJAP. It will be re-registered JA35CA.

New Central Airservice's Dornier Do 228 and destinations. (Image: CUK)

New Central Airservice will use the 19-seat aircraft to launch three-times daily Tokyo/Chofu (RJTF) - Miyakejima (MYE/RJTQ) service on April 2nd, replacing ANA Wings (EH/AKX), which at the end of March will suspend its single daily Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) - Miyakejima route currently operated with its last remaining 56-seat Bombardier DHC-8-315 (300Q) JA804K. Located approximately 180km south of Tokyo and administered by the nation's capital, Miyakejima, one of the nine inhabited Izu Islands, is home to 2,580 people. The only means of transportation from the island to Tokyo is either the 50-minute flight, or a six-hour ferry ride. These essential services are subsidized by the government of Tokyo.

The airline was the launch customer for the 'New Generation' Dornier Do 228, upgraded with a glass cockpit, five-blade propeller, and longer range. It is manufactured by Swiss technology firm RUAG. Chofu Airport, located in northwestern Tokyo, is New Central Airservice's hub for its scheduled commuter flights to the Izu Islands. With its fleet of Dornier Do 228s, they currently operate to Kouzushima (RJAZ), Niijima (RJAN), and Oshima (OIM/RJTO).

ANA to resume Aomori.

On December 26th, All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) revealed that they will be re-introducing services to Aomori (AOJ/RJSA) from the summer 2014 timetable, with flights to Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO) and Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC). They will be flown with 74-seat Bombardier DHC-8-400Qs operated by subsidiary ANA Wings (EH/AKX). Details will be announced in January 2014.

ANA withdrew from Aomori in April 2003, after axing its service to Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT). For domestic from Aomori, Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) serves Haneda, JAL's subsidiary J-Air (XM/JLJ) serves New Chitose and Itami, and Fuji Dream Airlines (JH/FDA) serves Nagoya/Komaki (NKM/RJNA).

Hope ANA stays for the long term and provides competition for JAL.

Source: Kahoku Shimbun (in Japanese)