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!

Nippon Cargo to fly all-Boeing 747-8F fleet by FY2018.

Nippon Cargo Airlines (KZ/NCA) will phase out the Boeing 747-400F and standardize its fleet on the larger B747-8F by fiscal year 2018, according to Nippon Yusen's Mid-term (five-year) Plan dubbed 'More Than Shipping 2018'. Often simply referred to as 'NYK Line', the Japanese shipping giant owns 99.97% of Japan's sole all-cargo airline.

A Nippon Cargo Boeing 747-8F takes off from Paine Field on a test flight. (Photo: Boeing)

Although the company sees demand for worldwide air freight recovering, they believe an increasing supply of cargo space in the bellies of passenger aircraft is putting pressure on all-freight operations. Plans call for more involvement in freight charters to reduce its dependence on scheduled flights, which currently account for most of their current operations, as well as look for partnerships to bring synergies and add more value. Additional cost-cutting measures will also be implemented.

Nippon Cargo currently operates seven B747-400Fs and five B747-8Fs, with another nine of the latter still on order. Along with Luxembourg-based Cargolux Airlines International (CV/CLX), they were the launch customer for Boeing's newest Jumbo freighter.

Source: Nippon Yusen, March 31st. (PDF; in Japanese)