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.

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)

New Star Flyer President is from ANA.

As rumored last week (Star Flyer's President Shinichi Yonehara to step down.), Star Flyer on February 28th announced that Shinichi Yonehara is resigning from his role as President of the Kitakyushu (KKJ/RJFR)-based airline on March 31st. An All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) veteran and former head of IBEX Airlines' (FW/IBX) Department for Risk Management Sadami Matsuishi is expected to succeed his position.

Airbus A320-214 JA05MC 'City of Kitakyushu' taxiing in the Haneda morning sun. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Star Flyer is expected to post a whopping 3.3 billion JPY loss for fiscal year 2013. Mr. Yonehara told during the press conference that he made the decision on his own, and that it was approved at a Board of Directors' meeting in February. "It's our first loss since we started operations, but a big one. 80 employees had to leave the company (as part of a restructuring plan to reduce costs) and I feel painful. I felt I need to take responsibility", he added. Mr. Yonehara is expected to remain with the carrier until at least June as Advisor, a ceremonial position. Meanwhile, Makoto Takahashi, Associate Senior Corporate Executive Officer, will be Acting President until the new leader is installed.

Mr. Yonehara (right) and Mr. Takahashi (left). (Photo: Aviation Wire)

60-year-old Mr. Matsuishi started his career with ANA in 1975 and eventually became ANA Operations Director. During his tenure, he was also briefly Vice President at Skynet Asia Airways (6J/SNJ) (d.b.a. Solaseed Air), and from March 2012 has been with IBEX Airlines, also an ANA feeder carrier. ANA Holdings currently owns 17.96% of Star Flyer, and effective March 30th, all services will code-share with ANA. It joins AIRDO (HD/ADO) (d.b.a. Air Do) (now 14% controlled by ANA) and Solaseed Air (now 12% controlled by ANA), which along with Star Flyer were new entrants born after deregulation to challenge the ANA/JAL duopoly, in becoming merely a feeder carrier for ANA. Skymark Airlines (BC/SKY) is now the only post-deregulation homegrown carrier truly independent from the mighty two.

Source: Yomiuri Shimbun, February 28th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, February 28th. (in Japanese)

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)