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 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)