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The Japanese Low Cost Carrier battle is about to go into full swing….

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Well it seems the existing low cost carriers are about to tough it out, as the Air Asia Japan (A Joint Venture between Air Asia and ANA) has been granted it’s Air Operators Certificate

The certificate will allow Air Asia Japan to operate from Tokyo Narita both international and Japanese domestic services.

A target date of August (with no specifics) is the current estimated entry into service due to available aircraft – or lack thereof.

Meanwhile, the Japanese Low Cost Carrier fight is going to be heading into full swing. Incumbents Air Do, Skymark Airlines, Solaseed Air and StarFlyer in position already but will get a major fight on their hands with the entry of three new airlines – Air Asia Japan, Peach Aviation (ANA’s Low Cost Carrier offshoot due to commence services on 1st March 2012) and JetStar Japan (in cooperation with JAL and Qantas/Jetstar with no current start date)

With the big hitters coming in, the smaller carriers may be heading for an all-out battle for survival depending on where they’re based, their loads (and if they can maintain them) and the competition.

For JAL and ANA, there could be a nasty after-taste operating LCC’s like this – cannibalising their own traffic. How bad that will be will only become evident after the operations of these Joint Venture-Low Cost Carriers begin trading….

Comments

  1. SW says

    this is interesting info. Is there a web site (Japanese or not) that let you compare prices between the LCCs there are already in operation?

  2. Frequent Flyer Collector says

    Wait, so ANA has their own low cost offshoot (Peach), and they’re in a joint venture with Air Asia on a new low cost carrier? so they’re going to be competing with themselves…it sorta makes sense, hoping that one of the ventures is successful, but it also seems counterintuitive to compete with yourself.

  3. Kevincm says

    @SW – Not as far as I know. A bit of research is needed. Or Google Translate 😉

    @Frequent Flyer Collector – It’s a tiny bit mad. But I’m watching how this plays out. Peach is based out of Kansai, where Air Asia Japan is based out of Narita. It’ll depend how they attack their local markets, and if any of these new LCC’s get access to the crown jewel of Tokyo Haneda Airport. If they do, both JAL and ANA may regret getting involved in the LCC Game…