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."

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)

Air Do announces FY2013-2016 plans.

AIRDO (HD/ADO) (d.b.a. Air Do) announced its business strategy for fiscal years 2013-2016. Next fiscal year 2014 will see the Sapporo/New Chitose (CTS/RJCC)-based carrier launch its first international services with charter flights to South Korea and Taiwan from New Chitose and possibly Obihiro (OBO/RJCB) as well, to be followed by additional domestic destinations from the Hokkaido capital in 2015. By fiscal year 2016, they aim to bring up revenue to 60 billion JPY and produce an operating profit of 2.9 billion JPY, for a 4.8% net margin.

Boeing 737-54K JA305K in BearDo special livery at Sendai. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Air Do currently operates two Boeing 767-300ERs, two B767-300s, four B737-700s, and six B737-500s. Plans call for the return of one B767 to its lessor in 2016, but will replace with another aircraft, probably on lease from 14% owner ANA Holdings like with its B737-700s. 2020 will see the retirement of its B767s and the replacement will be decided in 2016, which may possibly be early machines of ANA's B787-8s. In January 2016, Air Do will retire its last B737-500 after its ninth B737-700 is transferred from ANA. 

Source: Air Do (PDF; in Japanese)