IBEX Airlines announces Nagoya – Miyazaki.

On January 20th, IBEX Airlines [FW/IBX] announced that it will add Nagoya/Chubu Centrair [NGO/RJGG] – Miyazaki [KMI/RJFM] effective March 27th, the beginning of the Summer 2016 schedule. The new service will be operated by 70-seat Bombardier CRJ-700NGs on a daily basis. It is virtually a transfer of one of partner All Nippon Airways' [NH/ANA] current three frequencies, as the new round-trip will code-share with ANA while ANA is axing one flight.

Bombardier CL-600-2C10 CRJ-702NG JA05RJ taxies at Narita. Note the ANA Connection titles. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The new link, along with their double-daily Chubu Centrair – Oita [OIT/RJFO] route, will be increased to three times daily from August 5th to 22nd, during Japan's Obon (homecoming) period. Meanwhile, the commuter airline will decrease Chubu Centrair – Sendai [SDJ/RJSS] from three to two times daily. Code-share partner ANA will not be adding back any service.

Flight Schedule:
Chubu Centrair – Miyazaki NEW daily with CRJ700. (Mar/27-)
FW031 NGO 0855 – 1010 KMI CR7 Daily *Aug/5-22.
FW033 NGO 1105 – 1220 KMI CR7 Daily
FW035 NGO 1540 – 1655 KMI CR7 Daily *Aug/5-22.
FW032 KMI 1040 – 1155 NGO CR7 Daily *Aug/5-22.
FW034 KMI 1250 – 1405 NGO CR7 Daily
FW036 KMI 1725 – 1840 NGO CR7 Daily *Aug/5-22.

IBEX currently operates seven CRJ-700NGs and two CRJ-200ERs and all flights code-share with ANA under the branding ANA Connection. Their eighth CRJ-700NG will be delivered in June 2016, allowing a 50-seat CRJ-200ER to be retired. IBEX is majority controlled together by software developer Japan Digital Laboratory (JDL), which owns 47.9%, and its President Kazuo Maezawa, which holds another 18.8%.

Source: IBEX Airlines, 2016 January 20th. (in Japanese)
Source: All Nippon Airways, 2016 January 20th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, 2016 January 20th. (in Japanese)

IBEX Airlines retires first Bombardier CRJ.

IBEX Airlines' [FW/IBX] first aircraft, Bombardier CL-600-2B19 Regional Jet CRJ-100LR JA01RJ, was retired after operating its last revenue flight on November 11th. Earlier last month, the Sendai [SDJ/RJSS]-based commuter carrier took delivery of its sixth CL-600-2C10 CRJ-702NG, JA10RJ, beginning a transition to an all-CRJ-700NG fleet by the end of FY2016 (IBEX to retire Bombardier CRJ-100/200s by FY2016.).

Sister-ship Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-100LR JA02RJ, the remaining sole Series 100, taxies at New Chitose Airport near Sapporo. It will also be retired next year. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Originally founded on January 29th, 1999 as The Fair Inc (d.b.a. Fair), Japan's first independent regional start-up took delivery of the first aircraft from Lauda Air [NG/LDA] on May 31st, 2000. Service was inaugurated two months later on August 7th from Sendai to Osaka/Kansai [KIX/RJBB]. The current name was taken up on October 1st, 2004, after Japan Digital Laboratory (JDL), which now controls 47.9% (its President Kazuo Maezawa owns another 18.8%), became by far the largest shareholder.

IBEX currently operates six CRJ-700NGs, two CRJ-200ERs, and one CRJ-100LR on 16 routes totaling 54 daily flights, with all flights code-sharing with All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA] under the branding ANA Connection. Their seventh CRJ-700NG will be delivered in June 2015 with their eight expected a year later, while the sole remaining CRJ-100LR will be retired in FY2015 with the two CRJ-200ERs to follow in FY2016.

IBEX to retire Bombardier CRJ-100/200s by FY2016.

On April 15th, IBEX Airlines (FW/IBX) announced their FY2014 - 2016 Mid-Term Strategy, with the aim of becoming the 'top leader of regional airlines'.

The Tokyo-headquartered commuter airline, which has bases in Sendai (SDJ/RJSS) and Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO), is targeting continued zero-accident operations, a 98.5% flight completion rate and 95% on-time rate, and a cost per seat kilometer of 12 JPY. IBEX will look for more opportunities from its two focus cities, however, no new considerations were disclosed. It aims a total revenue of 13.9 billion JPY to produce an operating profit of 500 million JPY by FY2016.

Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER JA04RJ taxies at Narita. (Photo: IBEX Airlines)

On the fleet side, they will induct two additional Bombardier CL-600-2C10 CRJ-700NGs, one each in FY2015 and FY2016, while its two 50-seat CL-600-2B19 CRJ-100LRs will be phased out, one this year and the other in FY2015. The two CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ERs will also be retired by FY2016, standardizing its fleet on the 70-seat CRJ-700NG.

IBEX Airlines currently operates five CRJ-700NGs, two CRJ-200ERs, and two CRJ-100LRs on 16 routes totaling 54 daily flights. It is owned 47.9% by Japan Digital Laboratory, a software developing firm, 18.8% by that company's President Kazuo Maezawa, 9.5% by Art Vivant, 7.1% by Southern International, while the rest is owned by private investors. All flights code-share with All Nippon Airways (NH/ANA) under the branding 'ANA Connection'.

Source: IBEX Airlines, April 15th. (PDF; in Japanese)