Star Flyer loads Kitakyushu – Taipei charter.

On February 4th, Star Flyer [7G/SFJ] announced that they will operate three round-trip charters between Kitakyushu [KKJ/RJFR] and Taipei/Taoyuan [TPE/RCTP] during Japan's Golden Week peak travel period in May. 150-seat Airbus A320s will be assigned. Travel agencies JTB World Vacations and H.I.S. will market the packaged tour in Japan, while an undisclosed firm in Taipei has been contracted to sell tickets in Taiwan.

Airbus A320-214 JA05MC City of Kitakyushu at Haneda. Star Flyer is considering revamping the interior of its A320s, as well as increasing seat count from 150 to 166, matching that of ANA's A320s. The current generous low-density configuration would be unsustainable if and when fuel prices go up again. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

In May last year, the Kitakyushu-based airline had announced that it would consider midnight international charters to regional Asian destinations from its base as well as Nagoya/Chubu Centrair [NGO/RJGG], Osaka/Kansai [KIX/RJBB], and Tokyo/Haneda [HND/RJTT], as part of its mid-term strategy dubbed Pursuit of Star Flyer-ness 2020 (Star Flyer back in black, mulls international charters.). The red-eye flights increase utilization by flying them during the midnight when most domestic airports are closed.

Flight Schedule:
Kitakyushu – Taipei NEW charter with A320-200.
7G9671 KKJ 2330 – 0100(+1) TPE 32A/320 *May/2, 4, 6.
7G9672 TPE 0230 – 0550 KKJ 32A/320 *May/3, 5, 7.

With assistance from ANA Holdings, Star Flyer successfully turned itself around in FY2014, reporting a 431 million JPY net profit for the fiscal year ending in March 2015 over a 3.04 billion JPY loss for FY2013. The parent of Japan's largest airline is Star Flyer's biggest shareholder and has a 17.96% stake, and its current President Sadami Matsuishi is an ANA veteran (New Star Flyer President is from ANA.). All routes and all but a single Haneda – Kitakyushu round-trip code-share with ANA, and the partnership generates well over 30% of the Kyushu carrier's total revenue (Star Flyer launches Yamaguchi-Ube.).

Star Flyer currently operates nine 150-seat A320s on domestic routes. Their sole scheduled international route launched in July 2012 between Kitakyushu and Busan/Gimhae [PUS/RKPK] was suspended in March 2014 due to heavy losses.

Source: Star Flyer, 2016 February 4th. (in Japanese)

Star Flyer back in black, mulls international charters.

Star Flyer [7G/SFJ], which reported a 431 million JPY net profit for FY2014 ending on March 2015, announced its mid-term strategy dubbed Pursuit of Star Flyer-ness 2020. During the next five years, the Kitakyushu [KKJ/RJFR]-based carrier will consider midnight international charters to regional Asian destinations, as well as revamp its aircraft interiors and crew uniforms with an emphasis on its high service quality, which has earned the carrier first place for Japan Customer Satisfaction Index (JCSI) in the domestic long-distance travel category for six consecutive years.

Airbus A320-214(SL) JA20MC rotates from Haneda's Runway 34R. Star Flyer holds 19 slot-pairs at the heavily-regulated downtown Tokyo airport, with another four allocated for international/domestic connections which are specifically used for Haneda – Kansai. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

A reverse from a 3.04 billion JPY net loss in FY2013, Star Flyer's total sales stood at 34.7 billion JPY for FY2014 (5.2% increase over FY2013), operating profit was 247 million JPY (3.04 billion JPY operating loss in FY2013), while ordinary profit was 910 million JPY (2.64 billion JPY ordinary loss for FY2013). "Material uncertainty" whether the carrier could remain a going concern, warned in October 2013, was resolved by April 2014.

Star Flyer axed their four-times daily Osaka/Kansai [KIX/RJBB] – Fukuoka [FUK/RJFF] service in February 2014 as well as their double-daily Kitakyushu – Busan/Gimhae [PUS/RKPK] route, which was their sole but highly unprofitable international service, the following month, and instead shifted that capacity to launch Fukuoka – Nagoya/Chubu Centrair [NGO/RJGG] in March 2014, replacing the same number of ANA flights. In October, it reduced the hotly-contested Tokyo/Haneda [HND/RJTT]  – Fukuoka route from 10 to seven round-trips, and instead launched Haneda – Yamaguchi-Ube [UBJ/RJDC] (Star Flyer launches Yamaguchi-Ube.), again virtually taking over some ANA flights.

Network restructuring brought total passengers carried down by 18% to 141 million and available seat kilometers (ASK) down by 14.8%, but translated to a 2% system-wide load factor increase to 67.7%. All flights except for a single Haneda – Kitakyushu round-trip code-share with All Nippon Airways (Star Flyer to add ANA's code on all flights.), subsidiary of 17.26% owner ANA Holdings, and schedules are closely coordinated with them. Star Flyer earned a whopping 10.7 billion JPY just from code-sharing payments from ANA, an increase of 88% over the previous fiscal year, accounting for over 30% of their revenue. ANA veteran Sadami Matsuishi virtually took the helm in March 2014 and was officially installed as President in June (New Star Flyer President is from ANA.).

Sadami Matsuishi, former ANA Operations Director, heads Star Flyer. ANA virtually has the tiny carrier's slots at its disposal as seen through route swaps and heavy code-sharing. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Their FY2015 forecast estimates total sales at 34.1 billion JPY, operating profit at 380 million JPY, and ordinary profit at 1.18 billion JPY, producing a net profit of 820 million JPY. Calculations are based on currency rates staying at 125 JPY per USD and 145 JPY per EUR, and kerosene price averaging 70 USD per barrel.

No new routes are planned for the moment, and Star Flyer will concentrate on increasing profitability on its five current routes, though frequency adjustments are not ruled out. Meanwhile, midnight international charters to neighboring Asian cities from Kitakyushu, Kansai, Chubu Centrair, and Haneda, all 24-hour airports, are being considered. Its fleet of 150-seat Airbus A320s will be kept at nine, with orders for two more aircraft deferred indefinitely. However, Mr. Matsuishi has said "It's difficult to make a profit with 150-seat aircraft," adding the interior product revamp could include raising capacity to 166 seats, which would be identical to ANA's A320s.

Source: Star Flyer, May 1st. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, May 4th. (in Japanese)
Source: Traicy, May 7th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, May 7th. (in Japanese)

Star Flyer offering free tickets for First Sunrise Flight.

Star Flyer [7G/SFJ] will invite 35 pairs (or a group of up to three) to their First Sunrise Flight on January 1st, 2015, dubbed Sunrise Flight 2015. In October, the Kitakyushu [KKJ/RJFR]-based carrier won first place in the domestic long-distance travel category for the Japan Customer Satisfaction Index (JCSI), which is published annually by the Council for Service Productivity & Innovation for Growth (SPRING), and the airline says the flight is an expression of gratitude. It has won the award for six consecutive years.

Airbus A320-214(SL) JA21MC City of Kitakyushu is pushed back at Yamaguchi-Ube on the inaugural day (Star Flyer launches Yamaguchi-Ube.) of the service. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Sunrise Flight 2015, to be operated by one of their Airbus A320s, will depart Kitakyushu around 0600 JST and fly over Kyushu including Kagoshima's iconic Sakurajima volcano before returning to the airport around 0745. Application began on November 10th and will continue to December 1st through Star Flyer's website or by post, and winners will be contacted by the airline before December 8th. All winners will need to arrange their own transportation to arrive at the airport between 0445 and 0530. Seating will be assigned by the airline.

Reference: Star Flyer, November 9th. (in Japanese)

Star Flyer launches Yamaguchi-Ube.

On October 26th, the beginning of the Winter 2014/2015 timetable, Star Flyer (7G/SFJ) launched three-times daily service to Yamaguchi-Ube (UBJ/RJDC) from Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) (Star Flyer to add Yamaguchi-Ube; but reduce Fukuoka.). 150-seat Airbus A320-200s operate the route, and all flights code-share with All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA), subsidiary of ANA Holdings, which owns 18% of the Kitakyushu (KKJ/RJFR)-based carrier.

Airbus A320-214(SL) JA21MC City of Kitakyushu taxies at Haneda. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The inaugural flight, 7G011, operated by A320-214(SL) JA21MC, arrived at Yamaguchi-Ube at 0905 JST with a load of 128 passengers. It was greeted by a traditional water cannon salute upon arrival. The first return leg, flight 7G012, departed at 0947 carrying 148 passengers.

Flight Schedule (Oct/26/2014 - Mar/28/2015):
Haneda – Yamaguchi-Ube NEW 3 daily with A320-200.
7G011 HND 0720 – 0905 UBJ 32A/320 Daily
7G013 HND 1245 – 1430 UBJ 32A/320 Daily
7G015 HND 1750 – 19:35 UBJ 32A/320 Daily
7G012 UBJ 0945 – 1115 HND 32A/320 Daily
7G014 UBJ 1515 – 1645 HND 32A/320 Daily
7G016 UBJ 2010 – 2140 HND 32A/320 Daily

Star Flyer cut three of its 10 Haneda – Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) round-trips to free up three slot-pairs at the heavily-regulated Tokyo airport for the new service. Along with the launch, they moved all but its flights to Kitakyushu to Haneda's Terminal 2 (used by ANA Group and partners). Meanwhile, ANA axed two of its five Haneda – Yamaguchi-Ube round-trips and put its code on all three of Star Flyer's new flights. So virtually, the launch is more of a transfer of another unprofitable route from ANA to the de facto subsidiary (New Star Flyer President is from ANA.), which has lower costs (but still far from low cost).

Between March 2012 and January 2013, ANA deployed Boeing 787s on the route in a bid to compete against JAL's four daily 737-800 round-trips. However, currently all flights are operated by 270-seat 767-300s and load factor for FY2013 was 53.2%, well below the company average of 61.6%. Meanwhile, Star Flyer was bleeding cash after dumping all of its five new Haneda slot-pairs that were awarded in March 2013 into the Fukuoka market, a high-demand link but also one of the most highly-contested. Passenger numbers went up but sparked a fare-war which hurt the all-important yield. ANA had wanted to reduce flying Haneda – Yamaguchi-Ube without receiving bad publicity, and Star Flyer's restructuring was seen as a perfect vehicle. 

Unfortunately, Star Flyer has joined the likes of AIRDO (HD/ADO) (d.b.a. Air Do) and Skynet Asia Airways (6J/SNJ) (d.b.a. Solaseed Air) in becoming merely a lower-cost feeder carrier for ANA, at least in terms of route network. Why will ANA not simply take over these carriers? All Haneda slots are controlled and allocated by Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), and the unspoken rule is, if more than 20% of an airline that holds Haneda slots comes under control of another carrier, those slots must be relinquished for redistribution.

Reference: Aviation Wire, October 26th. (in Japanese)

Star Flyer to add Yamaguchi-Ube; but reduce Fukuoka.

On July 23rd, Star Flyer (7G/SFJ) officially announced that their new Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) – Yamaguchi-Ube (UBJ/RJDC) service would be inaugurated on October 26th, the beginning of the Winter 2014/2015 timetable, as previously rumored (Star Flyer to start Yamaguchi-Ube in October.). 150-seat Airbus A320s will operate the route.

Airbus A320-214 JA08MC Heart of Kitakyushu arrives at the airline's home base. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

The Kitakyushu (KKJ/RJFR)-based airline will cut three of its 10 current Haneda – Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) round-trips to free up three slot-pairs at heavily-regulated Haneda, and will use all three for the new link to Yamaguchi-Ube. Along with the launch, Star Flyer will move all but its flights to Kitakyushu to Haneda's Terminal 2 (used by ANA Group). Last spring, it erred in dumping all of its five newly-awarded Haneda slot-pairs into the Fukuoka market, a high-demand link but also one of the most highly-contested, bringing passenger numbers up but lowering prices and hurting the all-important yield.

Meanwhile, All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA), subsidiary of ANA Holdings, which also owns 18% (and de facto parent) of Star Flyer, will axe two of its five Haneda – Yamaguchi-Ube round-trips and instead code-share on all three of Star Flyer's new flights. ANA is rumored to allocate at least one of the freed-up slot-pairs to launch Haneda –Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG), a short hop aimed at feeding its expanded Haneda international network (ANA's Summer 2014 international expansion.) from Nagoya.

Between March 2012 and January 2013, ANA deployed Boeing 787s on the Haneda – Yamaguchi-Ube route in a bid to compete against JAL's four daily round-trips operated by 737-800s and lure travelers. However, now all flights are operated by 270-seat 767-300s and load factors for FY2013 showed 53.2%, well below the company average of 61.6%. ANA had wanted to reduce flying the route without receiving bad publicity, and Star Flyer's restructuring was seen as a perfect vehicle.

Star Flyer has sadly joined the likes of AIRDO (HD/ADO) (d.b.a. Air Do) and Skynet Asia Airways (6J/SNJ) (d.b.a. Solaseed Air) in becoming merely a lower-cost feeder carrier for ANA. Why will ANA not simply take over these carriers? The biggest probable reason behind it is that if they are merged into ANA, they would likely be forced to relinquish some of the precious Haneda slots.

Reference: Star Flyer, July 23rd. (PDF; in Japanese)
Reference: Star Flyer, July 23rd. (PDF; in Japanese)
Reference: Aviation Wire, July 23rd. (in Japanese)

Star Flyer to start Yamaguchi-Ube in October.

Star Flyer (7G/SFJ), which is undergoing management change and restructuring (Star Flyer's President Shinichi Yonehara to step down.) after posting a whopping 3 billion JPY loss for fiscal year 2013, will reportedly launch Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) – Yamaguchi-Ube (UBJ/RJDC) from the Winter 2014/2015 schedule starting on October 26th.

Airbus A320-214 JA04MC City of Kitakyushu taxies at rainy Haneda. Delivered in 2007, it will be returned to the lessor this year, reducing the fleet to nine. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Since the Kitakyushu (KKJ/RJFR)-based airline's total number of prized Haneda slots will remain at 27 slot-pairs, two of 10 round-trips between Haneda and Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) and one of the dozen connecting the capital with Kitakyushu is expected to be suspended to provide room for the three new flight pairs. The other five slot-pairs are currently used for their Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) service.

However, Sadami Matsuishi, the new President to be sworn in on June 25th (New Star Flyer President is from ANA.), had repeatedly emphasized to Kitakyushu's business community that the airline's hometown would not see cuts, so if local criticism turns out to be strong, Fukuoka could see a third flight cut instead of Kitakyushu. Mr. Matsuishi is a veteran of All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA), a wholly owned subsidiary of ANA Holdings, which controls roughly 18% of Star Flyer's shares. His most recent position has been Chief of Department for Risk Management at IBEX Airlines (FW/IBX).

Meanwhile, ANA plans to code-share with Star Flyer on all three new flights and instead reduce flying their own metal on three of their five daily round-trips. This effectively frees up three of ANA's slot-pairs at Haneda, which sparks speculation about where ANA plans to use these precious slots to. The code-share allows Star Flyer to have a stable income from the now de facto parent while for ANA it could transfer second-tier routes to a (slightly) lower-cost partner and free-up Haneda slots at the same time. Operating under a similar scheme are Star Flyer's three Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG) – Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) round-trips (Star Flyer to add ANA's code on all flights.), launched on March 30th, which replaced three of ANA's.

Now in its eighth year of service, Star Flyer's heavy losses not only stem from high costs (Cost of Available Seat-Kilometer, or CASK, was 11.8 JPY for FY2011), a depreciated JPY (same as everyone else), and LCC competition, but also from critical strategy errors. Last spring, it dumped all of its five new slot-pairs awarded at Haneda on the Fukuoka route, a high-demand link but also one of the most highly-contested. Load factors went up, but prices went down and hurt the all-important yield.

Star Flyer initially touted (and still does) itself as an affordable high-quality domestic airline, boasting Airbus A320s with only 150 seats, providing audio visual on-demand (AVOD) at every seat (the only domestic airline to do so), as well as serving Tully's-branded coffee accompanied by chocolate for free. However, with heavy losses and ANA's increased involvement, it is becoming merely another pawn of ANA, joining the likes of AIRDO (HD/ADO) (d.b.a. Air Do), IBEX Airlines, and Skynet Asia Airways (6J/SNJ) (d.b.a. Solaseed Air).

Source: Mainichi Shimbun, June 13th. (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)

Star Flyer's President Shinichi Yonehara to step down.

Rumors are circulating that Star Flyer's (7G/SFJ) current President Shinichi Yonehara has decided to resign from his position. Yomiuri Shimbun along with other media all reported the news on February 19th. It was denied by the airline the following day, but several sources close to the President are telling that other executives have already been informed about the matter.

Airbus A320-214 JA08MC 'Heart of Kitakyushu' taxies at Haneda. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Star Flyer is expected to post a staggering 3.3 billion JPY loss for fiscal year 2013 ending in March. Their all-Airbus A320 fleet will be reduced to nine, executives have already taken 15-30% salary cuts, and the company has cut about 10% of its workforce through early voluntary retirements. The carrier blames higher fuel costs due to the rapid devaluation of the Japanese Yen (JPY) as well as increased competition from LCCs, but that's just a tip of an iceberg. 

As part of restructuring, they are axing the four-times daily Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) - Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) service after February 19th as well as their double-daily Kitakyushu (KKJ/RJFR) - Busan/Gimhae (PUS/RKPK) route, their sole but highly unprofitable international service, after March 29th. Star Flyer touts itself as Kitakyushu's hometown airline with its headquarters and maintenance center based there, but most of its routes are to and from the big cities of Fukuoka, Osaka, and Tokyo. Last spring, it put all of its five slot-pairs newly awarded at Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) on the Haneda - Fukuoka route, a high-demand route but at the same time one of the most highly-contested. Load factors went up, but prices went down and hurt the all-important yield.

Meanwhile, Star Flyer's Haneda - Kansai route, which constantly sees load factors around 70%, is not helping the balance sheet either. As many as 130 of the 150 seats per flight are sold by All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA), which puts its code on these flights, and Star Flyer is being forced to sell these seats to ANA at "unfavorably low prices", according to close sources. Soon they will have ANA's code on code on all flights; the 'NH' code will be placed on all of its 10 Haneda - Fukuoka round-trips on February 1st, as well as the three-times-daily Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG) - Fukuoka route which will commence on March 30th. "ANA basically forced Star Flyer to start taking over another unprofitable (at ANA's costs) route", cite a source who preferred not to be named.

Unlike competing LCCs which cram 180 seats on the A320, Star Flyer only has 150; they have boasted 'high-quality domestic economy', providing audio visual on-demand (AVOD) at every seat, the only domestic airline to do so, as well as serving Tully's-branded coffee accompanied by chocolate for free. But these features will not stand out soon, as Skymark will put in all-premium Airbus A330s into service on the Haneda - Fukuoka route and sells these seats at prices often even cheaper than ANA and Japan Airlines' (JL/JAL) economy.

ANA Holdings owns 17.96% of Star Flyer, and rumors have it that an ANA veteran will be installed as new President. Can Star Flyer find a niche? Or will it become merely a feeder carrier for ANA operating routes that would be unprofitable at ANA's costs? 

Source: Yomiuri Shimbun, February 19th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, February 21st. (in Japanese)

Star Flyer returns second Airbus A320 to lessor.

On the morning of February 14th, Star Flyer's (7G/SFJ) second aircraft, Airbus A320-214 JA02MC, left Japan. It departed the airline's base at Kitakyushu (KKJ/RJFR) as flight 7G9201 and arrived at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL/RPLL) later that day for final maintenance checks prior to its return to lessor GECAS. JA02MC was delivered new to Star Flyer on January 28, 2006.

Airbus A320-214 JA02MC at rainy Haneda Airport in May 2011. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

This leaves only one more 144-seat A320 in the fleet, while others seat 150 passengers. The last, JA04MC, will also be retired after Star Flyer suspends Kitakyushu - Busan/Gimhae (PUS/RKPK), its sole but unprofitable international route, effective March 30th. As part of their restructuring, the low-fare premium carrier is reducing its fleet to nine. Three more A320s were planned for arrival during 2014 - 2015 but deliveries have been indefinitely deferred.

Heavy snowfall in Tokyo disrupts flights all over Japan again.

From the afternoon of February 14th until the next morning, Tokyo received its second heavy snowfall in a week, two weekends in a row, virtually closing down the capital's Haneda Airport (HND/RJTT) again.

For domestic flights, All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) canceled 40 and Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) canceled 75 on February 14th, affecting 5,300 and 11,575 customers, respectively. On the following day today, in the morning ANA had already decided to cancel 245 domestic flights and five of Haneda's international flights, affecting 49,140 passengers, while JAL decided to cancel 280 domestic flights and a Haneda - Shanghai/Hongqiao (SHA/ZSSS) round-trip, affecting 42,541 travelers. Skymark Airlines (BC/SKY), Star Flyer (7G/SFJ), and AIRDO (HD/ADO) (d.b.a. Air Do) all warned passengers to check the latest departure information.

Again, Kanto, or the Greater Tokyo region, is not used to snow. 24-hour stand-by snow plowing, practiced in snowy Aomori and Hokkaido, is too costly to be justified for a large airport like Haneda that usually only gets once or twice of trivial snow accumulation in a year.

Source: Aviation Wire, February 15th. (in Japanese)

Heavy snowfall in Greater Tokyo disrupts flights nationwide.

The Kanto (Greater Tokyo) region's heaviest snowfall in 45 years disrupted operations at the nation's busiest airport in Haneda (HND/RJTT) on February 8th, and it continued on to the following day today as airlines struggled to reposition their aircraft and crews. It had a ripple effect to essentially all airports in Japan, as most main-line aircraft are based at Haneda.

Yesterday, Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) and its group carriers together canceled 304 domestic and three international flights, affecting approximately 52,000 and 470 passengers, respectively, while All Nippon Airways' (NH/ANA) group canceled 274 domestic and two international flights, affecting 46,300 and 300 passengers, respectively. Several other flights suffered lengthy delays or were diverted to other airports. Today on February 9th, JAL canceled 206 domestic and 37 international flights, affecting 41,009 passengers, while ANA canceled 101 domestic flights, affecting about 15,000 people. Skymark Airlines (BC/SKY) canceled 50 flights yesterday and another 30 today. Star Flyer (7G/SFJ) and AIRDO (HD/ADO) (d.b.a. Air Do) among others all reported cancellations and warned travelers of potential delays. Jetstar Japan (GK/JJP) canceled 34 flights on February 9th, affecting 5899 people.

Tokyo saw 27 centimeters of snow, a record in 45 years, while neighboring Chiba reported 33 centimeters, an all-time record. Ishinomaki, near Sendai in the northeast, recorded 38 centimeters, its heaviest in 91 years. Unlike the snowy prefectures of Aomori, Hokkaido, or northwestern Japan, Kanto along with east Japan are not used to life with snow; infrastructure is vulnerable against snow and stand-by snow-plowing equipment are minimal.

Source: Aviation Wire, February 10th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, February 9th. (in Japanese) 

*Post edited/updated on February 10th.

Star Flyer takes 13th Airbus A320.

Star Flyer's (7G/SFJ) 13th aircraft, Airbus A320-214(SL) JA23MC, arrived at the airline's base of Kitakyushu (KKJ/RJFR) from Toulouse as flight 7G5931 on January 24th. Configured with 150 seats, 'Spirit of Kitakyushu' was handed over on January 20th. It is the fourth sharklet-equipped A320 in their fleet. Star Flyer's fleet now stands at 11, as two older A320s have already been returned to their lessors.

Airbus A320-214 JA08MC, Star Flyer's 8th aircraft, at Kitakyushu. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

In other news, Star Flyer has managed to find 26 voluntary retirements, reducing the number of employees to 660, as part of the current restructuring plan. They will also suspend all four daily Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) - Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) round-trips after February 19th, followed by their double daily Kitakyushu - Busan/Gimhae (PUS/RKPK) route, their sole international service, after March 29th, and reduce the fleet to nine A320s. Its eight executives have taken 15-30% salary cuts. Meanwhile, the airline will start placing All Nippon Airways' (NH/ANA) code on all of its 10 Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) - Fukuoka round-trips on February 1st, as well as on all three of its new Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG) - Fukuoka flights to be launched on March 30th. Star Flyer is owned 17.26% by ANA Holdings.

Star Flyer to add ANA's code on all flights.

Star Flyer (7G/SFJ) will code-share with All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) on all three of their new daily Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) - Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG) flights, which will be launched on March 30th. This will result in the carrier code-sharing with ANA on all of its flights.

Star Flyer's Airbus A320-214 JA08MC at Fukuoka in October 2013. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

In November, Star Flyer announced that fiscal year 2013 will likely result in at least a 1.74 billion JPY loss, forcing the carrier to restructure its operations. Its system-wide load factor from April through September was 63.8%. As a result, they are axing the four-times daily Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) - Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) service after February 19th as well as their double-daily Kitakyushu (KKJ/RJFR) - Busan/Gimhae (PUS/RKPK) route, their sole international service, after March 29th. Two additional Airbus A320-200s will be returned to lessors, which would bring the fleet down to nine. Its eight executives took 15-30% salary cuts, and the company is looking for 30 voluntary retirements. Meanwhile, it will start placing ANA's code on all of its 10 Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) - Fukuoka round-trips on February 1st. ANA Holdings owns 17.26% of Star Flyer.

One of a handful of carriers born after de-regulation, Star Flyer tried to operate high-quality service from its hub at Kitakyushu with Airbus A320s equipped with audio-visual-on-demand (AVOD) at every seat and accommodating only 144 passengers. However, instead of carving out a niche, it will soon be not much more than a feeder carrier for ANA, as is the case with AIRDO (HD/ADO) (d.b.a. Air Do) and Skynet Asia Airways (6J/SNJ) (d.b.a. Solaseed Air). ANA is decreasing service on the Chubu Centrair - Fukuoka route from nine to six after Star Flyer commences the route.

Source: Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese)

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)