Fuji Dream Embraer E175 loses cabin pressure over Akita.

On July 7th, Fuji Dream Airlines [JH/FDA] flight JH212 from Sapporo/New Chitose [CTS/RJCC] bound for Matsumoto [MMJ/RJAF] made an emergency landing at Niigata [KIJ/RJSN] en route, due to a warning light indicated a problem with the bleed air system. Aircraft involved was Embraer ERJ170-200/STD (E175) JA06FJ Purple, carrying 67 passengers, three flight attendants, and two pilots.

Embraer ERJ170-200/STD (E175) JA06FJ Purple at Fukuoka. Fuji Dream Airlines' fleet is currently comprised of three 76-seat E170s and six 84-seat E175s. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

JH212 departed the gate at New Chitose on time at 1430 JST and took off at 1444. Around 1524 when the aircraft was cruising over Akita prefecture, a warning light indicating a malfunction with the bleed air system came on, followed by a loss of cabin pressure. Declaring emergency, oxygen masks were deployed, and the airplane descended to 10,000 feet (3,048 meters), before diverting to Niigata, where it performed a safe touchdown at 1547.

Nobody was injured, and there were no abnormal odors or noises on the aircraft, according to FDA. Regulator Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) has designated the occurrence as a "major incident," which could have led to an accident. The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) is investigating the matter.

Source: Fuji Dream Airlines, July 8th. (in Japanese)
Source: Aviation Wire, July 8th. (in Japanese)

JAL starts Summer 2014 seasonal routes.

On August 1st, Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) launched six summer seasonal routes. From Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG), they have launched three-times weekly Kushiro (KUH/RJCK) and four-times weekly Obihiro (OBO/RJCB) service, while from Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO), daily service to Matsumoto (MMJ/RJAF) and Memanbetsu (MMB/RJCM) have been added. Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC) sees new four-times weekly service to Izumo (IZO/RJOC) and three-times weekly to Tokushima (TKS/RJOS).

Boeing 737-846(WL) JA314J arrives at Aomori. JAL Express has started to repaint their aircraft with 'Japan Airlines' titles in anticipation of their merger into JAL on October 1st. Catch them while you can. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

The seasonal flights from Chubu Centrair and New Chitose are operated with JAL Express' (JC/JEX) (JAL Express to be absorbed by JAL on October 1st.) 165-seat (20 Class J and 145 economy) Boeing 737-800s, while the Itami flights are flown with J-Air's (XM/JLJ) 76-seat (all economy) Embraer ERJ170-100STDs (E170s). All six will operate until August 31st.

Flight Schedule (Aug/1 - Aug/31/2014 only):
Nagoya/Chubu Centrair – Kushiro NEW 3 weekly with 737-800.
JL3131 NGO 1130 – 1320 KUH 73H Tu/Th/Sa *Operated by JAL Express as JC3131.
JL3132 KUH 1450 – 1650 NGO 73H Tu/Th/Sa *Operated by JAL Express as JC3132.

Nagoya/Chubu Centrair – Obihiro NEW 4 weekly with 737-800.
JL3303 NGO 1100 – 1300 OBO 73H Mo/We/Fr/Su *Operated by JAL Express as JC3303.
JL3304 OBO 1520 – 1715 NGO 73H Mo/We/Fr/Su *Operated by JAL Express as JC3304.

Osaka/Itami – Matsumoto NEW 1 daily with E170.
JL2271 ITM 1330 – 1420 MMJ E70 Daily *Operated by J-Air as XM2271.
JL2272 MMJ 1500 – 1555 ITM E70 Daily *Operated by J-Air as XM2272.

Osaka/Itami – Memanbetsu NEW 1 daily with E170.
JL2101 ITM 0815 – 1020 MMB E70 Daily *Operated by J-Air as XM2101.
JL2102 MMB 1050 – 1300 ITM E70 Daily *Operated by J-Air as XM2102.

Sapporo/New Chitose – Izumo NEW 4 weekly with 737-800.
JL3426 CTS 1200 – 1405 IZO 73H Mo/We/Fr/Su *Operated by JAL Express as JC3426.
JL3421 IZO 1455 – 1650 CTS 73H Mo/We/Fr/Su *Operated by JAL Express as JC3421.

Sapporo/New Chitose – Tokushima NEW 3 weekly with 737-800.
JL3436 CTS 1200 – 1355 TKS 73H Tu/Th/Sa *Operated by JAL Express as JC3436.
JL3437 TKS 1455 – 1655 CTS 73H Tu/Th/Sa *Operated by JAL Express as JC3437. 

All of these routes are actually resumptions. Chubu Centrair – Kushiro was suspended in May 2010, Chubu Centrair – Obihiro in October 2010, Itami – Matsumoto in June 2010, Itami – Memanbetsu in April 2005 (moved to Kansai but suspended in March 2009), and both New Chitose – Izumo and New Chitose – Tokushima in March 2011; all during JAL Group's restructuring. Originally announced in January (JAL to resume six domestic routes for Summer 2014.), these routes are probably candidates for a full resumption, as part of JAL's intention to "restart rural routes that are potentially profitable in due course."

FDA plans charters to Aomori, Hokkaido, and Okinawa.

Fuji Dream Airlines (JH/FDA) is planning various charter flights to Aomori, Hokkaido, and Okinawa from its hubs at Nagoya/Komaki (NKM/RJNA) and Shizuoka (FSZ/RJNS) this upcoming summer.

Embraer ERJ170-100STD (E170) JA01FJ 'Dream Red' arriving at Fukuoka. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

FDA will fly a round-trip flight between Shizuoka and Aomori (AOJ/RJSA) on April 26th, 28th, and May 2nd as part of Hankyu Travel International's package tour to see Hirosaki's Sakura (cherry blossom) Festival in Aomori during 'Golden Week'. The airline already operates two daily scheduled round-trips between Komaki and Aomori, which will be increased to three from July 1st (Fuji Dream Airlines' Summer 2014 changes.).

To Okinawa prefecture in southern Japan, Fuji Dream will fly to Miyako (MMY/ROMY) from Komaki on April 27th on behalf of Japan's largest travel agency JTB, and from Shizuoka on May 1st, 3rd, and 6th on behalf of tour firm Tabix.

From June 28th to September 20th, FDA will fly a weekly single round-trip between Komaki and Sapporo/Okadama (OKD/RJCO), the downtown airport of the Hokkaido capital, on Saturdays using Embraer ERJ170-100s (E170). Plans are also underway to operate up to 98 charter flights to and from Wakkanai (WKJ/RJCW) at the northernmost tip of Hokkaido from Komaki, Matsumoto (MMJ/RJAF), Niigata (KIJ/RJSN), and Shizuoka between June 13th and August 18th. 

FDA currently operates five ERJ170-200s (E175) and three ERJ170-100s (E170), and its eighth aircraft was only delivered (Fuji Dream Airlines receives eighth E-Jet 'Tea Green'.) roughly two weeks ago. The company's mission has been 'bridging communities to promote exchanges in people, products, economy, and culture'. 

Source: Hokkaido Shimbun, March 12th. (in Japanese)
Source: Miyako Mainichi Shimbun, March 13th. (in Japanese)
Source: FlyTeam, March 18th. (in Japanese)

JAL to resume six domestic routes for Summer 2014.

During the Summer 2014 schedule (effective March 30th), Japan Airlines (JL/JAL) will be resuming six domestic routes from August. Most of these were suspended when JAL was restructuring during 2009 - 2010.

Boeing 767-346/ER JA656J 'Doraemon Jet' at Haneda in January 2013. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

New Routes/Resumptions:
Nagoya/Chubu Centrair (NGO/RJGG) - Kushiro (KUH/RJCK) new 3 weekly with 73H. *August 1 - 31.
Chubu Centrair - Obihiro (OBO/RJCB) new 4 weekly with 73H. *August 1 - 31.
Osaka/Itami (ITM/RJOO) - Matsumoto (MMJ/RJAF) new 1 daily with E70. *August 1 - 31.
Itami - Memanbetsu (MMB/RJCM) new 1 daily with E70. *August 1 - 31.
Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC) - Izumo (IZO/RJOC) new 4 weekly with 73H. *August 1 - 31.
New Chitose - Tokushima (TKS/RJOS) new 3 weekly with 73H. *August 1 - 31.

Frequency Increases:
Fukuoka (FUK/RJFF) - Amami (ASJ/RJKA) from 1 to 2 daily.
Fukuoka - Izumo from 2 to 3 daily.
Fukuoka - Kochi (KCZ/RJOK) from 3 to 4 daily.
Itami - Nagasaki (NGS/RJFU) from 3 to 4 daily. 
Itami - Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) from 1 to 2 daily. *3 daily April 29 - May 31.
New Chitose - Memanbetsu from 3 to 4 daily.
Tokyo/Haneda (HND/RJTT) - Chubu Centrair from 1 to 2 daily.
Haneda - Ishigaki (ISG/ROIG) from 1 to 2 daily. *July 18 - August 31.
Haneda - Kitakyushu (KKJ/RJFR) from 5 to 6 daily. 
Haneda - Okayama (OKJ/RJOB) from 5 to 6 daily.
Haneda - Naha from 12 to 14 daily.
Haneda - Osaka/Kansai (KIX/RJBB) from 2 to 3 daily.
Haneda - Takamatsu (TAK/RJOT) from 6 to 7 daily.
Haneda - Tokushima from 6 to 7 daily.
Haneda - Yamagata (GAJ/RJSC) from 1 to 2 daily.

Frequency Reductions:
Fukuoka - Matsuyama (MYJ/RJOM) from 8 to 6 daily.
Itami - Izumo from 6 to 5 daily.
Itami - Miyazaki (KMI/RJFM) from 6 to 5 daily.
Haneda - Izumo from 6 to 5 daily.
Haneda - New Chitose from 17 to 16 daily.
Tokyo/Narita (NRT/RJAA) - Fukuoka from 3 to 1 daily.
Narita - Chubu Centrair from 3 to 2 daily. 
Narita - New Chitose from 3 to 1 daily.

Yamagata will receive its long-awaited second daily service from Haneda, to be operated by J-Air (XM/JLJ). Notable changes include the suspension of many Narita domestic flights, which mostly feed its international operations. Jetstar Japan (GK/JJP), which is partly owned by JAL, has largely expanded its domestic network from Narita, and JAL is using code-sharing on their flights for international connections.

Source: Japan Airlines (in Japanese)