IBEX Airlines announces Nagoya – Miyazaki.

On January 20th, IBEX Airlines [FW/IBX] announced that it will add Nagoya/Chubu Centrair [NGO/RJGG] – Miyazaki [KMI/RJFM] effective March 27th, the beginning of the Summer 2016 schedule. The new service will be operated by 70-seat Bombardier CRJ-700NGs on a daily basis. It is virtually a transfer of one of partner All Nippon Airways' [NH/ANA] current three frequencies, as the new round-trip will code-share with ANA while ANA is axing one flight.

Bombardier CL-600-2C10 CRJ-702NG JA05RJ taxies at Narita. Note the ANA Connection titles. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The new link, along with their double-daily Chubu Centrair – Oita [OIT/RJFO] route, will be increased to three times daily from August 5th to 22nd, during Japan's Obon (homecoming) period. Meanwhile, the commuter airline will decrease Chubu Centrair – Sendai [SDJ/RJSS] from three to two times daily. Code-share partner ANA will not be adding back any service.

Flight Schedule:
Chubu Centrair – Miyazaki NEW daily with CRJ700. (Mar/27-)
FW031 NGO 0855 – 1010 KMI CR7 Daily *Aug/5-22.
FW033 NGO 1105 – 1220 KMI CR7 Daily
FW035 NGO 1540 – 1655 KMI CR7 Daily *Aug/5-22.
FW032 KMI 1040 – 1155 NGO CR7 Daily *Aug/5-22.
FW034 KMI 1250 – 1405 NGO CR7 Daily
FW036 KMI 1725 – 1840 NGO CR7 Daily *Aug/5-22.

IBEX currently operates seven CRJ-700NGs and two CRJ-200ERs and all flights code-share with ANA under the branding ANA Connection. Their eighth CRJ-700NG will be delivered in June 2016, allowing a 50-seat CRJ-200ER to be retired. IBEX is majority controlled together by software developer Japan Digital Laboratory (JDL), which owns 47.9%, and its President Kazuo Maezawa, which holds another 18.8%.

Source: IBEX Airlines, 2016 January 20th. (in Japanese)
Source: All Nippon Airways, 2016 January 20th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, 2016 January 20th. (in Japanese)

IBEX Airlines retires first Bombardier CRJ.

IBEX Airlines' [FW/IBX] first aircraft, Bombardier CL-600-2B19 Regional Jet CRJ-100LR JA01RJ, was retired after operating its last revenue flight on November 11th. Earlier last month, the Sendai [SDJ/RJSS]-based commuter carrier took delivery of its sixth CL-600-2C10 CRJ-702NG, JA10RJ, beginning a transition to an all-CRJ-700NG fleet by the end of FY2016 (IBEX to retire Bombardier CRJ-100/200s by FY2016.).

Sister-ship Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-100LR JA02RJ, the remaining sole Series 100, taxies at New Chitose Airport near Sapporo. It will also be retired next year. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Originally founded on January 29th, 1999 as The Fair Inc (d.b.a. Fair), Japan's first independent regional start-up took delivery of the first aircraft from Lauda Air [NG/LDA] on May 31st, 2000. Service was inaugurated two months later on August 7th from Sendai to Osaka/Kansai [KIX/RJBB]. The current name was taken up on October 1st, 2004, after Japan Digital Laboratory (JDL), which now controls 47.9% (its President Kazuo Maezawa owns another 18.8%), became by far the largest shareholder.

IBEX currently operates six CRJ-700NGs, two CRJ-200ERs, and one CRJ-100LR on 16 routes totaling 54 daily flights, with all flights code-sharing with All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA] under the branding ANA Connection. Their seventh CRJ-700NG will be delivered in June 2015 with their eight expected a year later, while the sole remaining CRJ-100LR will be retired in FY2015 with the two CRJ-200ERs to follow in FY2016.

JAL looks to replace Bombardier CRJs and Saab SF340s.

Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) is considering placing an order for regional airplanes to replace older commuter jets and turboprops, according to an interview with JAL Chairman Masaru Onishi in Doha, Qatar.

Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER JA208J departs Aomori. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

J-Air's (XM/JLJ) nine Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER and Japan Air Commuter's (3X/JAC) 11 aging Saab SF340Bs are probably the candidates for replacement Mr. Onishi is referring to. J-Air is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JAL, while JAC is controlled 60% by JAL and the remainder by Kagoshima Prefecture and its local governments. The proposal may also include the three SF340Bs of Hokkaido Air System (HC/NTH), in which JAL is expected to increase ownership to 51% during fiscal year 2014.

"The issue will be addressed in the near future," Mr. Onishi stated. Competition for regional jets is likely to involve three companies: Mitsubishi, Embraer, and Bombardier. The Canadian manufacturer and ATR are likely to battle over the turboprop order. Last year, JAL shook the industry by placing a landmark 9.5 billion USD order with the European planemaker for up to 56 Airbus A350 XWBs, including 31 firm examples, to replace their Boeing 777 fleet, after decades of loyalty to the American company.
 
Meanwhile, orders for the A320neo or 737 MAX have been ruled out for the near term, as the airline has judged its 50-strong 737-800 fleet is still in good shape. 70% subsidiary Japan Transocean Air (NU/JTA) also just placed an order for a dozen 737-800s (JTA finalizes order for 12 Boeing 737-800s.) to replace their current 737-400s starting in 2016.

Source: Wall Street Journal, June 2nd. (in English)

IBEX to retire Bombardier CRJ-100/200s by FY2016.

On April 15th, IBEX Airlines (FW/IBX) announced their FY2014 - 2016 Mid-Term Strategy, with the aim of becoming the 'top leader of regional airlines'.

The Tokyo-headquartered commuter airline, which has bases in Sendai (SDJ/RJSS) and Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO), is targeting continued zero-accident operations, a 98.5% flight completion rate and 95% on-time rate, and a cost per seat kilometer of 12 JPY. IBEX will look for more opportunities from its two focus cities, however, no new considerations were disclosed. It aims a total revenue of 13.9 billion JPY to produce an operating profit of 500 million JPY by FY2016.

Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER JA04RJ taxies at Narita. (Photo: IBEX Airlines)

On the fleet side, they will induct two additional Bombardier CL-600-2C10 CRJ-700NGs, one each in FY2015 and FY2016, while its two 50-seat CL-600-2B19 CRJ-100LRs will be phased out, one this year and the other in FY2015. The two CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ERs will also be retired by FY2016, standardizing its fleet on the 70-seat CRJ-700NG.

IBEX Airlines currently operates five CRJ-700NGs, two CRJ-200ERs, and two CRJ-100LRs on 16 routes totaling 54 daily flights. It is owned 47.9% by Japan Digital Laboratory, a software developing firm, 18.8% by that company's President Kazuo Maezawa, 9.5% by Art Vivant, 7.1% by Southern International, while the rest is owned by private investors. All flights code-share with All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) under the branding 'ANA Connection'.

Source: IBEX Airlines, April 15th. (PDF; in Japanese)