J-Air missed inspections for three Bombardier CRJs.

J-Air [XM/JLJ], the wholly-owned commuter arm of Japan Airlines [JL/JAL], flew three Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER aircraft for up to six months without inspections being carried out on engine-related parts, JAL officials said on June 24th. In order to carry out the checks, the regional airline on June 24th canceled 23 flights affecting 807 passengers, though there were no disruptions the following day.

Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER JA205J at New Chitose serving Sapporo. Deliveries of newer Embraer E-Jets will start later in 2015 to replace CRJs, though J-Air's entire fleet will eventually be standardized on the Mitsubishi MRJ (JAL orders 32 Mitsubishi MRJs and 27 Embraer E-Jets.). (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The three aircraft in concern are CRJ-200ERs JA207J, JA208J, and JA209J, which were delivered in October 2005, December 2005, and March 2006, respectively. The airplanes' structural parts supporting the engines were required for inspection when they reached 22,145 cycles, and once every 11,773 cycles thereafter. However, they went unnoticed without one for up 2,178 flights, or six months. All necessary checks, which found no flaws, were carried out on the night of June 24th.

Technical personnel noticed the three aircraft had missed the check-up when they were updating their maintenance system. Their six other CRJ-200ERs in its fleet are unaffected. J-Air is investigating why it failed to conduct the inspection.

Source: Aviation Wire, June 24th. (in Japanese)

Peach cancels 56 Okinawa – Taipei flights in August.

Peach Aviation (MM/APJ) has announced further cancellations for its Summer 2014 schedule due to pilot shortage; its daily round-trip between Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) and Taipei/Taoyuan (TPE/RCTP) will not be operated between August 3rd through 31st, affecting 56 flights. Two First Officers who were training to become Captains quitting in May has been told as the reason.

Airbus A320-214 JA806P taxies for departure at Okinawa's Naha. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

Including previously-reported disruptions (Peach outlines Summer 2014 mass cancellations.), the number of canceled flights during July and August will rise to 894, which add up to a total of 2,128 cancellations between May 1st and October 25th. The number of affected passengers stays at 27,209, as these 28 round-trips have not been on sale yet. The Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB)-based LCC intends to announce the reduced timetable for September and October, however, they warn that at least 786 will be canceled.

The fledgling LCC currently employs 110 cockpit crews; 55 Captains and 55 First Officers. Compared to April, one new Captain was hired and two First Officers were promoted, while eight Captains remain on sick leave, making the total number of Captains who can work at 52.

Source: Peach Aviation, May 20th. (PDF; in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, May 20th. (in Japanese)

Jetstar Japan delays Kansai hub, cancels 101 flights.

On May 21st, Jetstar Japan (GK/JJP) announced the delay of their long-awaited (and too-many-times-delayed) Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) hub launch from June 3rd (Jetstar Japan to launch Kansai hub from June.) to June 12th. As a result, 101 flights, or 14% of their operations, are being canceled during that period.

Airbus A320-232 JA10JJ at Toulouse prior to delivery. (Photo: Airbus)

The Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA)-based LCC reports coordination with maintenance contractor JAL Engineering (JALEC), a subsidiary of Japan Airlines (JL/JAL), taking more time as the primary reason for the postponement. Shortages of pilots, which have caused massive travel disruptions at competitors Peach Aviation (MM/APJ) (Peach outlines Summer 2014 mass cancellations.) and Vanilla Air (JW/VNL) (Vanilla Air cancels 154 flights in June due to pilot shortage.), are not an issue with Jetstar Japan, the company says.

Affected routes from Narita are Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF), Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH), and Kansai, while from Kansai, Fukuoka and Naha see cancellations. Jetstar Japan is offering re-accommodation on their other flights as well as full refunds at no charge, and a 2,000 JPY voucher for use with their buy-on-board program is also being given out.

Source: Jetstar Japan, May 21st. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, May 21st. (in Japanese)

Vanilla Air cancels 154 flights in June due to pilot shortage.

On May 16th, Vanilla Air (JW/VNL) announced that they will cancel 154 flights in June due to pilot shortage. 17 round-trips for Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA) – Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) and 60 round-trips for Narita – Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC) are being canceled, affecting 2,551 passengers. Meanwhile, their Seoul/Incheon (ICN/RKSI) and Taipei/Taoyuan (TPE/RCTP) routes will be unaffected, again reflecting the airline's emphasis on the international market.

Vanilla Air's Airbus A320-216(SL) JA01VA at Narita. (Photo: Vanilla Air)

The boosted schedule effective June had 12 daily round-trips and called for 26 captains, however, three sick leaves and resignations forced the airline to cancel 32% of its planned flights for the month. On July 1st, the timetable will increase to 14 round-trips per day, with the launch of the Narita – Amami (ASJ/RJKA) (Vanilla Air announces Amami Oshima.), however, Vanilla Air is confident they will meet the required number of cockpit crews by hiring in four new, along with 'borrowing' two captains from sister All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA).

Passengers booked on the affected flights are being offered full refunds or re-booking (at no cost) on other Vanilla Air flights, as well as, surprisingly, ANA flights from Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) and Narita when there is no Vanilla Air flight available for over four hours after the canceled flight. Both ANA and Vanilla Air are 100%-owned subsidiaries of ANA Holdings.

Sound familiar? With Peach announcing 2,072 cancellations from May to October (Peach outlines Summer 2014 mass cancellations.) due to similar reasons, it will no doubt give LCCs negative press, and will shed light on Japan and the region's shortage of pilots.

Source: Vanilla Air, May 16th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, May 16th. (in Japanese)

Peach outlines Summer 2014 mass cancellations.

On April 30th, Peach Aviation (MM/APJ), which one week earlier announced up to 2,088 possible flight cancellations for Summer 2014 (Peach to cancel up to 2,088 flights this summer.) due to cockpit crew shortage, outlined details of the reduced operation from May 19th through October 25th.

A Peach Airbus A320 takes off. (Photo: Aviation Wire)

A total of 1,624 flights have been announced as cancellation possibilities during the period, in addition to the 448 flights already canceled between May 1st and 18th, which brings the total to 2,072. The Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB)-based LCC is offering full refunds and re-bookings to their other flights.

Breakdown of Cancellations from May 1st through October 25th:
Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) – Ishigaki (ISG/ROIG): 198 flights
Kansai – Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF): 496 flights
Kansai – Hong Kong (HKG/VHHH): 46 flights
Kansai – Kagoshima (KOJ/RJFK): 304 flights
Kansai – Matsuyama (MYJ/RJOM): 242 flights
Kansai – Naha: 150 flights
Kansai – Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC): 112 flights
Kansai – Sendai (SDJ/RJSS): 466 flights
Kansai – Seoul/Incheon (ICN/RKSI): 42 flights *Only in May and June.
Kansai – Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA): 16 flights

Noteworthy routes include Kansai – Fukuoka, which saw the largest number of possible cancellations accounting for 36.9% of planned flights during this period, while the Naha – Ishigaki route saw the highest rate at a whopping 60.4%. The latter has become a low-fare battleground with Skymark Airlines (BC/SKY) as well as ANA Group and JAL-affiliate Japan Transocean Air (NU/JTA), which also lowered prices, pulling down yields. Meanwhile, routes to Taiwan, both to Taipei/Taoyuan (TPE/RCTP) and Kaohsiung (KHH/RCKH), and to Busan/Gimhae (PUS/RKPK) in South Korea, remain unaffected, reflecting their popularity. Incheon won't see any cancellations for the peak season from July as well.
 
Peach currently employs 52 Captains and 56 First Officers (Copilots), however, eight Captains are absent from work due to health-related issues, and the company's target to recruit 10 additional Captains from outside did not go as planned. Rumors of delays in in-house training of First Officers to become Captains, and flight attendants and maintenance crew shortages have been denied.

Peach has so far been the most successful of the Japanese LCCs, but how much affect these mass cancellations and the April 28th incident at Okinawa (Peach Airbus A320 narrowly avoids crash at Okinawa.) will have on the fledgling carrier is unsure, though it will most definitely be a negative one.

Source: Peach Aviation, April 24th. (PDF; in Japanese)
Source: Peach Aviation, April 30th. (PDF; in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, April 30th. (in Japanese)

Peach to cancel up to 2,088 flights this summer.

On April 24th, Peach Aviation (MM/APJ) announced at a press conference held at Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) that they are considering canceling up to 2,088 flights from May 19th through October 25th due to pilot shortage.

Airbus A320-214 JA806P taxies for departure at Seoul's Incheon. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB)-based LCC currently employs 108 cockpit crews, consisting of 52 Captains and 56 First Officers (Copilot), however, eight Captains are absent from work due to health-related issues, and the company's target to recruit 10 additional Captains from outside is not going as planned. Peach denied any reports that in-house training of First Officers to become Captains is failing as well as rumors of flight attendants and maintenance crew shortages.

As a result, they have already decided to cancel 448 flights from May 19th to June 30th, covering flights from Kansai to Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF), Hong Kong (HKG/VHHH), Kagoshima (KOJ/RJFK), Matsuyama (MYJ/RJOM), Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH), Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC), Sendai (SDJ/RJSS), and Seoul/Incheon (ICN/RKSI), offering full refunds as well as re-booking on other Peach-operated flights. It is estimated that 3 billion JPY of revenue would be lost. Final decisions on flights after that date will be announced on April 30th. 2,088 flights equates to 16% of their planned schedule, affecting over 26,000 passengers.

Peach CEO Shinichi Inoue told media "From now on, we will leave more room (for target misses) in recruitment and network plans, so that this never happens again." However, he reiterated that the fledgling LCC is on-track to launch its second hub at Naha on July 19th (Peach announces Naha - Fukuoka.) and its first full year profit is still expected for FY2013, which ended last month, and another year of profit for FY2014 could be reached by increasing aircraft utilization for Winter 2014/2015. Peach currently operates a dozen Airbus A320s, with another to arrive in June, and two more before March 2015.

Crew shortages for Airbus A320s; first Jetstar Japan (GK/JJP) with maintenance crews and now Peach with pilots. In historically Boeing-dominated Japan, recruiting and training staff certified for Airbuses is not catching up with demand. Opting for Boeing 737s for that reason, are executives of Spring Airlines Japan (IJ/SJO) (Spring Airlines Japan to launch services on June 27th.) smiling?

Source: Nikkei Shimbun, April 24th. (in Japanese)
Source: Asahi Shimbun, April 24th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, April 24th. (in Japanese)

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.