Solaseed makes international debut with Kaohsiung charter.

On October 17th, Skynet Asia Airways [6J/SNJ] (d.b.a. Solaseed Air) operated its first ever international service, a round-trip charter between Miyazaki [KMI/RJFM] and Kaohsiung [KHH/RCKH] (Solaseed Air reveals Miyazaki – Kaohsiung charter.). It is being flown as part of a three-day four-night packaged tour from Miyazaki to Taiwan's second biggest city and vice versa.

Boeing 737-81D(WL) JA801X departs Miyazaki on Solaseed Air's first ever international flight. It launched operations back in August 2002. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

The outbound leg departed Miyazaki at 0848 JST carrying 158 passengers, mostly local business officials, five flight attendants, and two pilots. Boeing 737-81D(WL) JA801X was assigned. For the first time, the local carrier of Kyushu served in-flight meals and alcoholic beverages on board.

Flight Schedule:
Miyazaki – Kaohsiung NEW charter with 737-800.
6J9167 KMI 0850 – 1020 KHH 73H Oct/17
6J9167 KMI 1155 – 1325 KHH 73H Oct/20
6J9168 KHH 1130 – 1440 KMI 73H Oct/17
6J9168 KHH 1435 – 1745 KMI 73H Oct/20

Miyazaki's local transportation company Miyakoh Group, which owns 24% of Solaseed, is responsible for marketing in Japan, while JPK International Air Service, based in Taipei, is carrying out sales in Taiwan. "We hope to make this a success and increase charters; we would like to learn what we could do and what our customers want us to do," said Hiroshi Takahashi, President of Solaseed (Solaseed Air eyes international charters in FY2015.).

The Kyushu-based carrier currently flies 68 daily domestic flights covering 10 routes and 10 destinations using a dozen 737-800s. Their entire domestic network code-shares and is closely coordinated with All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA] (Solaseed Air expands Okinawa with Ishigaki and Nagoya.), whose parent ANA Holdings controls roughly 9% of Solaseed, and virtually 35% when combined with the shares of Development Bank of Japan, a long-time ANA partner. Its official name will also be changed to Solaseed Air effective December 1st (Skynet Asia to officially change name to Solaseed Air.).

Source: Aviation Wire, 2015 October 17th. (in Japanese)
Source: Yomiuri Shimbun, 2015 October 18th. (in Japanese)

Solaseed Air reveals Miyazaki – Kaohsiung charter.

On July 17th, Skynet Asia Airways [6J/SNJ] (d.b.a. Solaseed Air) announced plans for its first international charter flight, where it will operate two round-trips between Miyazaki [KMI/RJFM] and Kaohsiung [KHH/RCKH] in October. 174-seat Boeing 737-800s will be assigned, however, approximately only 150 seats will be available for sale.

Boeing 737-86N(WL) JA811X taxies at Tokyo's Haneda. With LCCs gaining ground, opportunities in the domestic market outside its partnership with ANA have decreased for small mid-cost airlines, prompting Solaseed to turn to international point-to-point charters to increase revenue. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The flight will be operated as part of a three-night four-day packaged tour both ways. Miyazaki's local transportation company Miyakoh Group, which owns 24% of Solaseed, will be responsible for marketing in Japan, while JPK International Air Service, based in Taipei, has been contracted for sales in Taiwan.

Flight Schedule:
Miyazaki – Kaohsiung charter with 737-800.
6J**** KMI 0850 – 1020 KHH 73H Oct/17 *Flight numbers undecided.
6J**** KMI 1155 – 1325 KHH 73H Oct/20
6J**** KHH 1130 – 1440 KMI 73H Oct/17
6J**** KHH 1435 – 1745 KMI 73H Oct/20

Last October, Solaseed's President Hiroshi Takahashi had revealed that international charters were in the works (Solaseed Air eyes international charters in FY2015.). Although Miyazaki receives a three-times weekly flight from Taipei/Taoyuan [TPE/RCTP] with China Airlines [CI/CAL], that is the only destination in Taiwan. Mandarin Airlines [AE/MDA] operated a round-trip charter linking Miyazaki and Kaohsiung back in July 2010.

Marketing itself as The Wing of Kyushu and Okinawa, Solaseed currently flies 68 daily domestic flights covering 10 routes and 10 destinations using a dozen 737-800s. Their entire domestic network code-shares and is closely coordinated with All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA] (Solaseed Air expands Okinawa with Ishigaki and Nagoya.), whose parent ANA Holdings controls roughly 9% of Solaseed, though that figure is virtually 35% when combined with the shares Development Bank of Japan, a long-time ANA partner, controls. It will change its official name to Solaseed Air effective December 1st (Skynet Asia to officially change name to Solaseed Air.).

Source: Skynet Asia Airways, July 17th. (in English)
Source: Aviation Wire, July 17th. (in Japanese)

Skynet Asia to officially change name to Solaseed Air.

Skynet Asia Airways [6J/SNJ] (d.b.a. Solaseed Air) will officially change its corporate name to Solaseed Air effective December 1st. It was approved at a shareholders' meeting held on June 23rd. The niche carrier aims to raise brand-awareness by standardizing its brand and official name. It started using the Solaseed Air brand on July 11th, 2011, however, their official identity remained unchanged.

Boeing 737-86N(WL) JA805X arrives at Haneda in the sunset. The name change would likely be unnoticed by most ordinary travelers, as Skynet Asia has been using Solaseed Air as its brand since July 2011. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Founded back on July 3rd, 1997 as Pan Asia Airways, it changed its name to Skynet Asia Airways in September 1999, before launching operations on August 1st, 2002 with a base at Miyazaki [KMI/RJFM]. Originally the third child of Japan's deregulation challenging the ANA/JAL/JAS triopoly, its financial situation quickly deteriorated before an intervention orchestrated by the government in June 2004 led to a rehabilitation process sponsored by All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA].

ANA Holdings currently owns 8.56% of Solaseed, though it virtually controls over 36% when combined with the 27.75% share controlled by Development Bank of Japan, with which ANA enjoys rapport. ANA thus has indirect control over the 25 slot-pairs Solaseed holds at Tokyo/Haneda [HND/RJTT]. Japan's largest carrier has also used them as a lower-cost feeder vehicle to transfer some less-profitable routes, with the most recent example being the two new Okinawa/Naha [OKA/ROAH] links (Solaseed Air expands Okinawa with Ishigaki and Nagoya.).

Code-sharing with ANA throughout its network, Solaseed's fleet has steadily grown from just two Boeing 737-400s (CoachFlyer 6J034: NGS - HND on Solaseed Air's Boeing 737.), the last of which was retired in September 2014 (Solaseed Air bids farewell to the Boeing 737-400.), to a dozen 737-800s.

Source: Skynet Asia Airways, June 23rd. (in Japanese)

Solaseed Air expands Okinawa with Ishigaki and Nagoya.

On March 29th, Skynet Asia Airways [6J/SNJ] (d.b.a. Solaseed Air) launched twice-daily Okinawa/Naha [OKA/ROAH] – Ishigaki [ISG/ROIG] and daily Naha – Nagoya/Chubu Centrair [NGO/RJGG] services using 174-seat Boeing 737-800s (Solaseed Air loads Okinawa to Ishigaki and Nagoya.). Both routes code-share with All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA], whose parent ANA Holdings controls 8.56% of Solaseed Air. It is virtually a transferring of routes, as ANA dropped an identical number of frequencies on the two routes on the same day.

Boeing 737-86N(WL) JA811X touches down at Ishigaki completing its inaugural flight. Solaseed Air's expansion coincides with the arrival of their 12th aircraft, which was only delivered on March 18th. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

The inaugural flight to Ishigaki, flight 6J045, operated by 737-86N(WL) JA811X, departed Naha at 1113 JST with a full load of 174 passengers including five children, and touched down at the gateway to the Yaeyama Islands at 1207. The first return leg 6J046 departed Ishigaki at 1255 carrying 165 passengers, including one child, and arrived back at Naha at 1344. Meanwhile, the first flight from Chubu Centrair as 6J069, operated by 737-86N(WL) JA806X, carried 173 passengers including one child.

Flight Schedule:
Naha – Ishigaki NEW 2 daily with 737-800. (Mar/29 - Oct/24)
6J045 OKA 1115 – 1215 ISG 73H Daily *Departs/arrives 10 minutes early Jul/1 - Sep/30.
6J049 OKA 1745 – 1845 ISG 73H Daily
6J046 ISG 1250 – 1345 OKA 73H Daily *Departs/arrives 10 minutes early Jul/1 - Sep/30.
6J050 ISG 1920 – 2015 OKA 73H Daily

Naha – Chubu Centrair NEW daily with 737-800. (Mar/29 - Oct/24)
6J070 OKA 1200 – 1410 NGO 73H Daily *Arrives 5 minutes late Jul/1 - Sep/30.
6J069 NGO 1445 – 1710 OKA 73H Daily *Departs 5 minutes late Jul/1 - Sep/30.

Naha – Ishigaki saw Peach Aviation [MM/APJ] axe the route in July last year (Peach launches Naha hub; but Naha – Ishigaki axed.), while Skymark Airlines [BC/SKY] also operated its last flight on March 28th as part of their bankruptcy reorganizing (Skymark to cut 15% of flights, ground all Airbus A330s.). ANA reduced its frequency to six, while Japan Airlines [JL/JAL] affiliates Japan Transocean Air [NU/JTA] and Ryukyu Air Commuter [RAC] together continue to operate nine daily round-trips. Solaseed Air cut its 28-day advance one-way fare to 4,800 JPY after local governments complained that its initial price was higher than Skymark.

Meanwhile, Naha – Chubu Centrair sees four daily round-trips operated by JTA, two by ANA, and a single frequency by Skymark. Jetstar Japan [GK/JJP] also entered the route with a single round-trip on the same day on March 29th (Jetstar Japan to start Nagoya – Okinawa.), becoming the first LCC to serve the market.

Although not designated a hub, Solaseed Air has a growing Naha operation, which boasts two daily flights to Kagoshima [KOJ/RJFK], three to Kobe [UKB/RJBE], and one to Miyazaki [KMI/RJFM], in addition to the newly-launched destinations. In other news, the Kyushu-based airline is planning its first international charters (Solaseed Air eyes international charters in FY2015.) this year, linking Kyushu and Okinawa with neighboring Asian destinations.

Source: Aviation Wire, March 29th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, March 29th. (in Japanese)

Solaseed Air loads Okinawa to Ishigaki and Nagoya.

On January 21st, Skynet Asia Airways [6J/SNJ] (d.b.a. Solaseed Air) announced the details of its new routes from Okinawa/Naha [OKA/ROAH] to Ishigaki [ISG/ROIG] and Nagoya/Chubu Centrair [NGO/RJGG] (Solaseed Air to add Ishigaki and Nagoya from Okinawa.) that will be launched from March 29th, the beginning of the Summer 2015 timetable.

Boeing 737-86N(WL) JA805X Nishimera Karikobozu Go is seen between flights at Miyazaki Airport. Nishimera, a village in Miyazaki prefecture, is the sponsor for the billboard title, and Karikobozu is their mascot. (Photo: Solaseed Air)

The former will be served twice daily and the latter once daily using 174-seat Boeing 737-800s. For scheduled flights, both destinations are seeing the airline for the first time. All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA], whose parent ANA Holdings owns 8.56% of Solaseed Air, will put its code on all three round-trips, and instead will drop an identical number of frequencies on the same routes.

Flight Schedule:
Naha – Ishigaki NEW 2 daily with 737-800. (Mar/29 - Oct/24)
6J045 OKA 1115 – 1215 ISG 73H Daily *Departs/arrives 10 minutes early Jul/1 - Sep/30.
6J049 OKA 1745 – 1845 ISG 73H Daily
6J046 ISG 1250 – 1345 OKA 73H Daily *Departs/arrives 10 minutes early Jul/1 - Sep/30.
6J050 ISG 1920 – 2015 OKA 73H Daily

Naha – Chubu Centrair NEW daily with 737-800. (Mar/29 - Oct/24)
6J070 OKA 1200 – 1410 NGO 73H Daily *Arrives 5 minutes late Jul/1 - Sep/30.
6J069 NGO 1445 – 1710 OKA 73H Daily *Departs 5 minutes late Jul/1 - Sep/30. 

The Miyazaki [KMI/RJFM]-based carrier is taking delivery of its 12th 737-800 in March, and it has been anticipated that new routes would be launched, in addition to planned international charters (Solaseed Air eyes international charters in FY2015.) to China, South Korea, and Taiwan. Although not designated a hub, Solaseed Air has a growing Naha operation, with two daily flights to Kagoshima [KOJ/RJFK], three to Kobe [UKB/RJBE], and one to Miyazaki.

The mid-cost carrier code-shares with ANA throughout its entire network, coordinating closely with its de facto parent. As witnessed, Solaseed Air's launch of these two new routes is virtually another transfer of some flights from ANA.

Source: Skynet Asia Airways, January 21st. (in Japanese)

Solaseed Air to add Ishigaki and Nagoya from Okinawa.

On December 19th, Skynet Asia Airways [6J/SNJ] (d.b.a. Solaseed Air) revealed that they will launch Okinawa/Naha [OKA/ROAH] – Ishigaki [ISG/ROIG] and Naha – Nagoya/Chubu Centrair [NGO/RJGG] on March 29th, 2015, the beginning of the Summer 2015 timetable. Frequencies, schedules, and other details will be released during the latter half of January. 174-seat Boeing 737-800s, on which the fleet has been standardized, will be assigned.

Boeing 737-86N(WL) JA803X takes off from Tokyo International Airport at Haneda. Solaseed Air completed transitioning to an all-737-800 fleet on September 30th (Solaseed Air bids farewell to the Boeing 737-400.). (Photo: Aviation Wire)

The Miyazaki [KMI/RJFM]-based carrier will take delivery of its 12th 737-800 in March 2015, and it has been anticipated that new routes would be launched, in addition to earlier-announced international charters (Solaseed Air eyes international charters in FY2015.) to China, South Korea, and Taiwan. Although not designated a hub, Solaseed Air has a growing Naha operation, with two daily flights to Kagoshima [KOJ/RJFK], three to Kobe [UKB/RJBE], and one to Miyazaki. All flights code-share with All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA], a subsidiary of ANA Holdings, which owns 8.56% of Solaseed Air.

The Naha – Chubu Centrair route already sees three carriers competing; ANA Group operates two daily, Japan Transocean Air [NU/JTA] three, and Skymark Airlines [BC/SKY] two. Meanwhile, Naha – Ishigaki is a fiercer battleground, with ANA Group flying eight daily, JTA eight daily, Ryukyu Air Commuter [RAC] one, and Skymark three. The latter route additionally saw LCC Peach Aviation [MM/APJ] until July 18th (Peach launches Naha hub; but Naha – Ishigaki axed.), when they suspended the route and eventually axed it, citing heavy competition.

However, this is probably a plan already well-coordinated with de facto parent ANA, like the case with Star Flyer [7G/SFJ] (Star Flyer launches Yamaguchi-Ube.) when they virtually took over some of ANA's flights at Yamaguchi-Ube. Both of Solaseed Air's new routes will probably code-share with ANA, and instead Japan's largest carrier will likely reduce frequency to free-up some narrow-body aircraft.

Source: Skynet Asia Airways, December 19th. (PDF; in Japanese)

Solaseed Air eyes international charters in FY2015.

Skynet Asia Airways (6J/SNJ) (d.b.a. Solaseed Air) is planning international charters from Kyushu to neighboring Asian nations in FY2015, revealed Hiroshi Takahashi, its President and CEO. The Miyazaki-based carrier will take delivery of its 12th Boeing 737-800 in March 2015, and plans to deploy the aircraft on charters to China, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Boeing 737-81D(WL) JA801X Genki Factory Kinko-machi GO lands at Haneda. Under the Sorakoi Project, Solaseed Air promotes Kyushu's local communities. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

"We want to be flexible in deciding where we'll be flying to," said Mr. Takahashi, adding "We want to try out various possibilities, and eventually, we hope we can upgrade it to a scheduled service." Solaseed Air's fleet is now comprised of only brand-new 174-seat 737-800s, after the last of their 'Classic' 150-seat 737-400s was retired at the end of September (Solaseed Air bids farewell to the Boeing 737-400.).

From Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT), the Kyushu airline currently flies five daily round-trips each to Kagoshima (KOJ/RJFK) and Kumamoto (KMJ/RJFT), seven to Miyazaki (KMI/RJFM), and four each to Nagasaki (NGS/RJFU) and Oita (OIT/RJFO). From Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH), they operate two daily to Kagoshima, three to Kobe (UKB/RJBE), and one to Miyazaki. The timetable is operated with 10 737-800s, thus one aircraft is always kept as a back-up. All 31 daily flights code-share with All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA), parent of ANA Holdings, which controls 8.6% of Solaseed Air.

Reference: Aviation Wire, October 31st. (in Japanese)

Solaseed Air bids farewell to the Boeing 737-400.

On September 29th, Skynet Asia Airways (6J/SNJ), doing business as Solaseed Air, retired the Boeing 737-400. The last revenue flight was 6J022, departing Kumamoto (KMJ/RJFT) at 1900 JST and touching down at Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) at 2022 with a load of 136 passengers, three flight attendants, and two pilots. It was operated by 737-46M JA392K. Passengers were handed out last-flight certificates, magnets, and stickers.

Boeing 737-46Q JA737B at Nagasaki. She became the penultimate 737-400 in the fleet, operating its last flight on September 23rd as 6J034 from Nagasaki to Haneda. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The second variant of the new generation 'Baby Boeing' was the first type to be flown by the airline when they launched operations on August 1st, 2002 as the third child of Japan's deregulation with a Haneda – Miyazaki (KMI/RJFM) service. Skynet Asia has since flown a dozen different 737-400s, operating 10 at peak time between July 2010 and April 2012. However, the introduction of the 737-800 in July 2011, which coincided with their re-branding into Solaseed Air, marked the gradual transition to the Next-Generation 737.

Boeing 737-4Y0 JA391K in Skynet Asia Airways' original livery. It was retired in April 2012. ANA owns a 8.56% minority stake in the Miyazaki-based carrier, but maintains a much greater near-subsidiary influence. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Last year, I had the opportunity to fly on JA737B (CoachFlyer 6J034: NGS - HND on Solaseed Air's Boeing 737.), which was retired six days earlier. With fleet modernization now complete, Solaseed Air's average fleet age will be reduced to just 1.75 years. It operates 11 737-800s, with the 12th due in May 2015. Japan Transocean Air (NU/JTA) is now the sole and last Japanese operator of the 737-400 with a dozen, though that fleet too will be replaced by 737-800s starting in January 2016 (JTA finalizes order for 12 Boeing 737-800s.).

Reference: FlightLiner, September 29th. (in Japanese)

Solaseed Air to retire Boeing 737-400 on September 29th.

Skynet Asia Airways (6J/SNJ), doing business as Solaseed Air, will retire the Boeing 737-400 on September 29th, with the last revenue flight currently planned to be flight 6J090, service from Oita (OIT/RJFO) to Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT). The stretched variant of the second generation 'Baby Boeing' was the first type to be flown by the airline when they launched on August 1st, 2002, with Haneda – Miyazaki (KMI/RJFM).

Boeing 737-46Q JA737B awaiting its next flight at Tokyo's Haneda. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

For September, the 737-400 is scheduled for just three round-trips: Haneda – Nagasaki (NGS/RJFU), Haneda – Oita, and Haneda – Kumamoto (KMJ/RJFT). Two of the type remain in service: 737-46Q JA737B and 737-46M JA392K. The former started out its carrier with now-defunct Istanbul Airlines (IL/IST) as TC-IAB in June 1998, while the latter was first delivered to Virgin Express (TV/VEX) as OO-VED in January 1997.

Boeing 737-400 Flight Schedule:
Haneda – Nagasaki 1 of 4 daily operated with 737-400.
6J031 HND 0650 – 0840 NGS 734 Daily *Until Sep/29.
6J034 NGS 0910 – 1055 HND 734 Daily *Until Sep/29.

Haneda – Oita 1 of 4 daily operated with 737-400.
6J091 HND 1215 – 1350 OIT 734 Daily *Until Sep/29.
6J090 OIT 1425 – 1555 HND 734 Daily *Until Sep/29. Last revenue flight.

Haneda – Kumamoto 1 of 5 daily operated with 737-400.
6J017 HND 1630 – 1810 KMJ 734 Daily *Until Sep/28.
6J022 KMJ 1845 – 2025 HND 734 Daily  *Until Sep/28.

The company's 11th 737-800 is expected to be delivered in September, however, their schedule from October only calls for 10 737-800s, so the 11th will be used as back-up equipment. Solaseed will receive their 12th in May 2015, which will coincide with an expansion of their network, the details of which will be announced this autumn. It will most likely be a 'transfer' of less profitable routes from de facto parent ANA Holdings' subsidiary All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA). ANA Holdings holds a 8.56% stake in Solaseed.

I was fortunate enough to fly on JA737B last year (CoachFlyer 6J034: NGS - HND on Solaseed Air's Boeing 737.). After Solaseed Air retires the 737-400, Japan Transocean Air (NU/JTA) will be the sole Japanese operator of the variant with a dozen, though that fleet too will be replaced by 737-800s starting in January 2016 (JTA finalizes order for 12 Boeing 737-800s.). Catch them while you can!

Reference: FlyTeam, August 25th. (in Japanese)

Solaseed Air sets new 60-day-advance fares.

On May 29th, Skynet Asia Airways (6J/SNJ), doing business as Solaseed Air, announced new 60-day-advance discounted tickets dubbed 'Bargain 60' to be offered for travel from September 1st onwards. The latest of their discounted fares line-up 'Bargain Series' is being introduced as part of a campaign to celebrate their third anniversary of the Solaseed brand.

Boeing 737-4Y0 JA737E was retired in December 2013 and is currently stored at Tucson, Arizona, USA. All four remaining 737 'Classics' are to be withdrawn by the end of the Summer 2014 timetable in October. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Bargain 60 is up to 74% cheaper than the normal one-way fare, and about 4% less expensive than Bargain 45, a 45-day-advance fare, which has been the cheapest fare until now. All routes from Kyushu to Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) will start from 9,500 JPY, Kobe – Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) from 8,600 JPY, and all routes from Kyushu to Naha from 9,500 JPY.

Cancellation fee is set at 430 JPY and refund cost is 20% of the fare if canceled before 60 days prior to the departure date, and 50% for after 59 days prior. Tickets are currently available for travel from September 1st through October 25th, the remainder of the Summer 2014 schedule.

Source: Skynet Asia Airways, May 29th. (PDF; in Japanese)

Solaseed Air to add more aircraft and routes in 2015.

Miyazaki (KMI/RJFM)-based Skynet Asia Airways (6J/SNJ), doing business as Solaseed Air, announced a revised Fiscal Years 2013 - 2015 Mid-Term Plan with less optimistic results. The company blamed the cost of fuel remaining high, a weak Japanese Yen (JPY), and increased competition.

Sporting Kumamoto prefecture's popular mascot, Boeing 737-81D(WL) JA802X Kumamon GO! taxies for departure at Haneda. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Estimated total revenue by end of fiscal year 2015 was brought up from 3.5 billion JPY to 3.92 billion JPY, however, their target operating margin of 8% has been lowered to 4%, while their goal for unit cost per available seat kilometer (ASK) by 2015 became 7 JPY, instead of 8.5 JPY. The target figure for flight completion rate was kept at 99%, but on-time rate was lowered from 95% to 93%.

Meanwhile, their ninth brand-new Boeing 737, B737-86N(WL) JA809X, was delivered on March 28th. Two more will arrive this year, each in June and September, enabling them to phase out the last four B737-400s by October. Another will be delivered by April next year, bringing the fleet to 12 B737-800s. New routes are to be announced in the coming months, and the airline is said to be considering regional international routes to and from Nagasaki and Naha/Okinawa (OKA/ROAH).

Regional international routes... will they be able to find a niche in a type of market where LCCs can generally perform better and are increasing their presence in?

The B737 'Classics' are slowly being phased out from Japanese skies. I've written a report on one of their B737-400 flights (CoachFlyer 6J034: NGS - HND on Solaseed Air's Boeing 737.).

Source: Skynet Asia Airways, March 27th. (PDF; in Japanese)

CoachFlyer 6J034: NGS - HND on Solaseed Air's Boeing 737.

Travel date: October 2013

Flight: 6J034
Route: Nagasaki (NGS/RJFU) - Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT)
Carrier: Skynet Asia Airways (6J/SNJ) d.b.a. Solaseed Air
Aircraft: Boeing 737-43Q JA737B
Class: Economy
Direct distance: 954 km (593 miles)
Flight time: 1 hour 26 minutes

Nagasaki Airport, located in Omura city, is about a one-hour bus ride from Nagasaki city. As we checked in at 0840 at All Nippon Airways' (NH/ANA) counter, which handles flights for Solaseed Air at Nagasaki, we moved on to the second floor of the terminal to find some gifts we had forgotten to buy for some of our friends. There were ample souvenir shops. We then walked to the observation deck, which gave us a full view of the tarmac and about half of the runway.

Boeing 737-43Q JA737B waiting for 6J034 at Nagasaki. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

We passed security at 0900, which was a breeze as there was only one other flight leaving, and a walk to Gate 7, where our flight 6J034 service to Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND/RJTT) was waiting, didn't take a minute. Boarding had started, and we were on the aircraft within minutes. The door was closed at 0911 and we started push-back three minutes later, one minute before scheduled departure. After a taxi to the threshold of Runway 32, we took off at 0922, local time. At 0929, the seat-belt signs were turned off and the flight attendants first started to hand out blankets. As we gradually banked right and headed northeast, we could see the city of Fukuoka, Kyushu's largest city, to our left.

City of Fukuoka near the middle of the photo. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

In-flight service commenced about 10 minutes into the flight. Solaseed Air provides a small choice of complementary beverages which includes 'agodashi' soup (flying-fish-broth soup, a local favorite), hot coffee, cold green tea, apple juice, and water. Local sweets can be bought on board, though prices are a bit high; for example a box of eight cookies cost 1,000 JPY. At 0942, our Captain Mr. Omori made his welcome announcement and informed us that we would be passing Oita soon. In-flight shopping started about 10 minutes later.

Solaseed Air's in-flight magazine 'Sola-Tane'. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Our ship for this day was Boeing 737-43Q JA737B, which began its career with defunct Istanbul Airlines (IL/IST) back on June 12, 1998. It later saw service with short-lived Belgian airline CityBird (H2/CTB) from January 2000 until October 2001, and in February 2002 it migrated to Japan to be part of the original two-aircraft fleet of Skynet Asia Airways (6J/SNJ), Japan's third start-up after Skymark Airlines (BC/SKY) and Hokkaido International Airlines (HD/ADO) (now Air Do) when Japan deregulated the domestic market. The airline re-branded itself Solaseed Air in July 2011, but its legal name remains the former name.

The Greater Osaka region right below us. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

At 1004 we flew right past Osaka's Kansai Airport (KIX/RJBB). We traveled along the east coast of Japan to the northeast and Mt. Fuji could be seen on our left side around 1025. Just a few minutes after passing Japan's highest peak, descent started, somewhere above Izu Peninsula. At 1036, the seat-belt lights were turned on, and lining up for Runway 34L, often called the 'A Runway', the B737's gears were lowered about eight minutes later. We touched down at 1048, local time, finishing a one-hour-and-26-minute flight. We taxied to Terminal 2, which is used by ANA and its affiliates, and arrived at Gate 52 at 1054, just a minute earlier than scheduled.

The cabin of Boeing 737-43Q JA737B. Seats show their age. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Skynet Asia Airways, originally called Pan Asia Airways at the time of set-up in July 1997, changed to its current legal name two years later and moved its headquarters from Fukuoka to Miyazaki in September 2000. Flights were launched on August 1, 2002, connecting Miyazaki (KMI/RJFM) and Haneda, boasting low-fares, the lowest seating density at 150 seats per B737, and locally-produced beverages on board. Failing to attract enough customers even after launching additional cities in Kyushu, June 2004 saw the airline asking the Japanese government for bankruptcy protection. ANA became the number two shareholder after the government, and since then, the carrier has gradually been transformed into a feeder airline for ANA, operating routes and flights to and from the Kyushu area that are not so profitable at ANA's costs.

Mt. Fuji. Right below us is the Izu Peninsula. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Today, Solaseed Air is owned 27.75% by the Development Bank of Japan, 23.97% by an arm of the local Miyazaki Kohtsu Group, 8.56% by ANA Holdings, and among others, and is currently in the process of replacing its aging secondhand B737-400s with brand-new B737-800s. Yes, they do have its own reservations system and sells tickets on their own as well, with our ticket bought at a low 9,500 JPY 45 days in advance, but other than that, frankly speaking, there's not so much special about the airline. It now operates Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) flights as well, but these were also virtually 'transferred' from ANA, and now their entire network code-shares with ANA. For Solaseed Air, it relies on ANA's code-shares to make both ends meet, and for ANA, it's a lower-cost 'de facto' subsidiary that holds some precious Haneda slots.

Holiday season load factors; LCCs nearly 90%.

Japanese carriers have released this winter holiday season's (December 20th - January 5th) load factors (L/F). Helped by a new year that came on Wednesday, many were off from work for nine days which led to more people traveling, and resulted in higher load factors for most carriers compared to last year. Low-cost carriers (LCCs) Jetstar Japan (GK/JJP), Peach Aviation (MM/APJ), and Vanilla Air (JW/VNL) stand out with around 90%.

International routes: ANA Group 79.2%, JAL Group 82.9%, Peach Aviation 87.8%, Star Flyer (7G/SFJ) 72.2%, and Vanilla Air 95.1%.
 
Domestic routes: ANA Group 69.1%, JAL Group 71.3%, AIRDO (HD/ADO) (d.b.a. Air Do) 76.6%, Jetstar Japan 88.3%, Peach Aviation 87.5%, Skymark Airlines (BC/SKY) 68.2%, Skynet Asia Airways (d.b.a. Solaseed Air) (6J/SNJ) 69.4%, Star Flyer 81.1%, and Vanilla Air 87.8%.

Source: Aviation Wire (in Japanese only)