TOKYO —
AirAsia Japan, the newest low-cost carrier (LCC) based at Narita International Airport, has launched daily flights to Fukuoka and Sapporo.
To celebrate the launch, travelers can enjoy celebratory low fares from 100 yen one way between Sapporo, Fukuoka, Okinawa and Tokyo until 23:59 on Aug 5 for travel between Aug 28 and Oct 27.
“AirAsia and ANA entered into a joint venture only about a year ago and the response has been overwhelming. I am delighted and emotional to see our first flights take off today to Fukuoka and Sapporo,” said Kazuyuki Iwakata, CEO, AirAsia Japan. “I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported and assisted us. We hope to get your continuous support as we take all effort to ensure that we provide the best quality service and affordable air travel for everyone.”
AirAsia Group CEO, Tony Fernandes added, “This is a dream come true for all of us at AirAsia. I have always believed in dreaming the impossible, but seeing AirAsia Japan’s inaugural flights take-off today puts a smile on my face. It has only been one year since we announced AirAsia Japan’s establishment and now we already have 2 aircraft, 243 staff in Japan and 3 domestic routes on the day we start our operations. Congratulations to Kazuyuki and his team for pulling this off.”
Asia Travel Tips
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JeffLee at Aug. 03, 2012 - 04:06PM JST
Could be good news for skiers. Gotta wonder what it's going to do to the business of the Hokkaido Shinkansen when it launches in 2015.
JeffLee at Aug. 04, 2012 - 07:02AM JST
I got 3 dislikes for the above comment just overnight? That's suspicious. Either people on this forum really hate skiers or AirAsia.
theResident at Aug. 06, 2012 - 01:46PM JST
..and since the first section of the Hokkaido Shinkansen will only be running as far as Hakodate, I would think the effects will be neglible. LLC's flying between Tokyo-Osaka-Fukuoka hasn't seemed to have affected the Tokkaido Shinkansen. LLC's encourage more people to travel - they generally do NOT lure away premium passengers or those who prefer point to point travel. Jeff, you seem to be under the illusion that everybody lives in Tokyo. The Hokkaido Shinkansen will benefit many people who live in cities along the current Tohoku Shinkansen route making Sapporo a lot more accessible for those NOT close an airport.
JeffLee at Aug. 06, 2012 - 06:22PM JST
LCC's encourage more people to travel - they generally do NOT lure away premium passengers or those who prefer point to point travel.
Sapporo not connected til later, eh? OK, fair enough. Still, the claim that LCC's simply create a market rather than steal market share from other operators has been the spin of the PR wonks who represent all sides concerned, and I can understand their, erm, "diplomacy" for stating that in the press.
AA is from Malaysia, right? Its flagship carrier Malaysian Airlines has been seriously, seriously in the dumps ever since AA took off. And were talking about the fastest-growing regional market in the world. Just think of the impact from LCCs in stagnant old Japan, where "premium passengers" are becoming an endangered species, not just from the recession but from shrinking demographics (particularly in rural places like Hokkaido and Tohoku).