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!

Japan Air Commuter orders up to 23 ATR42-600s.

On June 15th, Japan Air Commuter [3X/JAC] signed a contract to purchase up to 23 ATR42-600s, including eight firm orders, one option, and 14 purchase rights, at the Paris Air Show. Deliveries of the new generation aircraft will begin in 2017 to mainly replace JAC's 10 aging 36-seat Saab SF340Bs. It represents the 1500th ATR aircraft sold since the beginning of the program.

A rendering of the ATR42-600 in Japan Air Commuter's livery. (Image: ATR)

The ATR42-600 turboprop is equipped with a glass cockpit incorporating the newest navigation technologies introduced on the Airbus A380. Seating 48, the aircraft are also equipped with the new Armonia cabin, featuring the latest standards of comfort, including large overhead bins, LED lightening, and more legroom for passengers. JAC President Arata Yasujima said "We evaluated it against a smaller version of the Q400 Bombardier is developing," adding "In the end we valued the ATR42's comfort, economics, and reliability."

Originally a joint-venture (JV) between Japan Air System [JD/JAS] and 12 governments in the Amami Archipelago, controlling 60% and 40%, respectively, the regional airline was founded in 1983 to provide air services to remote islands from Kagoshima [KOJ/RJFK]. The JAS holding has since been inherited by Japan Airlines [JL/JAL] and it currently operates  141 daily flights covering 27 routes. In addition to the SF340Bs, it also flies 11 Bombardier DHC-8-400Qs.

JAC becomes the second carrier in Japan to choose the ATR42 after Amakusa Airlines [AHX], which will take delivery of a single aircraft in January 2016 to replace their sole Bombardier DHC-8-103, JA81MX (Amakusa Airlines chooses ATR42-600.). The Amakusa-based commuter airline started code-sharing with JAL in April (Amakusa Airlines announces code-share with JAL.), and Mr. Yasujima hinted a possible partnership including sharing spare parts sources.

Source: ATR, June 15th. (in English)
Source: Aviation Wire, June 15th. (in Japanese)

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)