Jetstar Japan launches Narita – Manila.

On March 15th, Jetstar Japan [GK/JJP] added Manila/Ninoy Aquino [MNL/RPLL] with initial service from its Tokyo/Narita [NRT/RJAA] hub (Jetstar Japan reveals Manila, downsizes Kumamoto.), making the Filipino capital their third international destination after Hong Kong [HKG/VHHH] (Jetstar Japan goes international with Kansai – Hong Kong.) and Taipei/Taoyuan [TPE/RCTP] (Jetstar Japan launches Taipei, next up Manila.). All flights are operated by 180-seat Airbus A320-200s. They became the first Japanese budget carrier to serve the Philippines.

Airbus A320-232(SL) JA15JJ departs for Jetstar Japan's maiden flight to the Philippines. Its fleet has been capped at 20 since December 2014 and growth has been achieved by increasing aircraft utilization, which is expected to approach maximum when frequency on the three new routes to Manila are increased. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

The inaugural outbound flight GK041 was operated by A320-232(SL) JA15JJ, which departed Narita at 2039 JST, 34 minutes behind schedule. It arrived at Manila past midnight at 0012 PHT, just seven minutes behind published time. The three-times-weekly service will be up-gauged to up to daily from April 29th. "Filipinos account for the third largest expatriate population in Japan. There's a huge opportunity there," said CEO Gerry Turner, revealing booking rates for March are exceeding 90%.

Flight Schedule:
Narita – Manila/Ninoy Aquino NEW up to daily with A320-200.
GK041 NRT 2005 – 0005(+1) MNL 32A/320 Tu/Th/Sa *Mar/15-19.
GK041 NRT 2005 – 0005(+1) MNL 32A/320 Mo/Tu/We/Th/Sa *Mar/20-26.
GK041 NRT 2010 – 0010(+1) MNL 32A/320 Fr *Mar/20-26.
GK041 NRT 2030 – 0005(+1) MNL 32A/320 Tu/Th/Fr/Sa/Su *Mar/27-Apr/3.
GK041 NRT 2030 – 0005(+1) MNL 32A/320 Tu/We/Th/Fr/Sa/Su *Apr/4-28.
GK041 NRT 2030 – 0005(+1) MNL 32A/320 Daily *Apr/29-May/8, Jun/1-30.
GK041 NRT 2030 – 0005(+1) MNL 32A/320 Tu/Th/Fr/Sa/Su *May/9-31.
GK040 MNL 0105 – 0615 NRT 32A/320 We/Fr/Su *Mar/16-20.
GK040 MNL 0105 – 0615 NRT 32A/320 Tu/We/Th/Fr/Sa/Su *Mar/21-27.
GK040 MNL 0105 – 0635 NRT 32A/320 Mo *Mar/28.
GK040 MNL 0105 – 0635 NRT 32A/320 We/Fr *Mar/29-Apr/4.
GK040 MNL 0105 – 0635 NRT 32A/320 We/Th *Apr/5-29.
GK040 MNL 0105 – 0635 NRT 32A/320 We *May/10-Jun/10.
GK040 MNL 0035 – 0605 NRT 32A/320 Mo/Sa/Su *Mar/29-Apr/4.
GK040 MNL 0035 – 0605 NRT 32A/320 Mo/Tu/Sa/Su *Apr/5-29.
GK040 MNL 0035 – 0605 NRT 32A/320 Daily *Apr/30-May/9.
GK040 MNL 0035 – 0605 NRT 32A/320 Mo/Tu/Sa/Su *May/10-Jun/1.
GK040 MNL 0035 – 0605 NRT 32A/320 Daily *Jun/2-Jul/1.

All flights are timed to leave Japan in the evening, arriving in the Philippines past midnight, and make a red-eye departure for an early-morning return back to Japan. This helps to increase aircraft utilization, as Narita has a curfew between 2300 and 0600 JST and most other domestic airports are also closed during midnight hours. Narita – Manila is currently served by All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA] daily, Cebu Air [5J/CEB] (d.b.a. Cebu Pacific Air) daily, Japan Airlines [JL/JAL] twice daily, Delta Air Lines [DL/DAL] daily, and Philippine Airlines [PR/PAL] twice daily.

Jetstar Japan will also link Manila with Nagoya/Chubu Centrair [NGO/RJGG] starting on April 1st and Osaka/Kansai [KIX/RJBB] on April 7th. Last October, Jetstar Airways [JQ/JST], Jetstar Asia Airways [3K/JSA], and Jetstar Japan had received antitrust immunity to coordinate flight times and prices on international routes to and from Japan to Taiwan and the Philippines. The Singapore/Changi [SIN/WSSS]-based sister's existing Kansai – Taipei and Kansai – Manila services are included in the scheme.

According to Qantas Airways' [QF/QFA] earnings report released on February 23rd, Jetstar Japan's EBIT for the second half of 2015 was in the black, making it the first time the Narita-based LCC recorded a profit since starting operations in July 2012. Their system-wide load factor for the same period also increased to 84% compared to 75% one year ago. Mr. Turner attributes the turnaround to its second hub at curfew-free Kansai (Jetstar Japan launches Kansai hub.), new international flights, and lower fuel costs. For FY2014 ending in June 2015, it had posted a 7.9 billion JPY loss and its two major shareholders Japan Airlines [JL/JAL] and Qantas together injected 7 billion JPY in November 2014 and another 4 billion JPY in June 2015.

Source: Asahi Shimbun, 2016 February 25th. (in Japanese)
Source: Asahi Shimbun, 2016 February 25th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, 2016 February 25th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, 2016 March 16th. (in Japanese)

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)