Spring Airlines Japan
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| Founded | October 2012 | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | 1 August 2014 | ||||||
| Operating bases | Narita International Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 3 | ||||||
| Destinations | 4 (initial plan) | ||||||
| Parent company | Spring Airlines, JTB, other Japanese investors | ||||||
| Headquarters | Narita, Chiba Prefecture, Japan | ||||||
| Key people | Hiroshi Ukai, Representative Director | ||||||
| Total equity | JPY 6 billion | ||||||
| Website |
jp | ||||||
Spring Airlines Japan Co., Ltd. (春秋航空日本株式会社 Shunjū Kōkū Nihon Kabushiki Gaisha) is a low-cost airline headquartered in Kozunomori, Narita, Japan.[1] It is 33% owned by Spring Airlines, a Chinese low-cost carrier, with the remainder held by various Japanese investors. SAJ began operations in August 2014,[2] having originally planned to begin operations in autumn 2013.[3]
History
Spring Airlines announced in 2011 that it had plans to establish a subsidiary in Japan; it would be the first Chinese airline to do so.[4] Spring was required to find one or more local partners due to Japanese legal restrictions that would limit its investment to a minority stake.[5]
The airline received an air operator's certificate on December 17, 2013,[6] having filed in September 2013 with 1.5 billion yen of equity capital, of which Spring Airlines invested 33%. The remainder of the airline's capital was provided by Japanese financial institutions, IT enterprises and trading companies, among others. There were plans to raise a further 4.5 billion yen of capital prior to commencement of operations.[7] Japanese travel agency JTB announced in March 2014 that it would invest in Spring Airlines Japan and enter a partnership with the airline to provide Japan tour packages to Chinese customers.[8]
Spring Airlines Japan planned to use primarily Japanese staff, such as retired Japan Airlines pilots. Its head of operations, Minoru Uchida, was formerly a JAL pilot.[7]
Destinations
The airline serves the following destinations:[9]
| Base | |
| City | Province/Region | Country | IATA | ICAO | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chongqing | Yubei | China | CKG | ZUCK | Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport |
| Hiroshima | Chūgoku | Japan | HIJ | RJOA | Hiroshima Airport |
| Saga | Kyūshū | Japan | HSG | RJFS | Saga Airport |
| Takamatsu | Shikoku | Japan | TAK | RJOT | Takamatsu Airport |
| Tokyo | Kantō | Japan | NRT | RJAA | Narita International Airport |
| Wuhan | Huangpi | China | WUH | ZHHH | Wuhan Tianhe International Airport |
SAJ may also eventually operate international services from Japan to secondary cities in Taiwan.
Fleet
SAJ took delivery of its first Boeing 737-800, JA01GR, at New Chitose Airport in 17/7/2013.[10] Although Spring Airlines uses Airbus A320 aircraft, the Japan operation elected to use the 737 due to its greater popularity among Japanese airlines and the relative ease of finding 737-qualified pilots, and is considering adopting 737 MAX aircraft in the future.[7]
The aircraft are fitted in a 189-seat configuration with 18 seats (the first three rows) curtained off as a premium cabin.[11]
In December 2015, 2 737-800 from Air Berlin will be added as part of the retirement of AB 737 aircraft. It's one of 10 737-800 from AB for Japan.
| Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Passengers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Y | |||
| Boeing 737-800 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 168 |
References
- ↑ "会社概要." Spring Airlines Japan. Retrieved on May 29, 2014. "〒286-0048 千葉県成田市公津の杜4丁目11番2号"
- ↑ "国内線LCC競争激化！ 「春秋航空日本」の武器は“飲み放題”!?". Nikkei Trendy Net. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
- ↑ "Spring Airlines Japan approved, delays launch to 2014: report". CAPA. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ↑ Wang, Ying (30 August 2011). "Spring Airlines looks to Japan for expansion". China Daily. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ↑ Sanders, Fay (30 September 2011). "Spring Airlines on hunt for JV partner and first five narrowbodies". Ascend. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ↑ "春秋航空日本、事業認可を取得 14年５月から国内３路線就航". 日本経済新聞. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- 1 2 3 Yoshikawa, Tadayuki (5 September 2013). "春秋航空日本、成田－高松など国内3路線就航へ 14年5月末". Aviation Wire. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- ↑ Yoshikawa, Tadayuki (25 March 2014). "JTB、春秋航空日本に出資 4月から社員派遣". Aviation Wire. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
- ↑ "路線図". Spring Airlines Japan. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
- ↑ "Spring Airlines Japan's lone 737-800 finally touches down in Sapporo". CH Aviation. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ↑ Yoshikawa, Tadayuki (26 December 2013). "春秋航空日本、機体と制服をお披露目". Aviation Wire. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
全189席のうち、前方3列の18席は上級クラスとする予定で、普通席との間はカーテンで仕切られる。
External links
- Website (Japanese)
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