Spring Airlines Japan

Spring Airlines Japan
春秋航空日本
Shunjū Kōkū Nihon
IATA ICAO Callsign
IJ SJO JEY SPRING
Founded October 2012
Commenced operations 1 August 2014
Operating bases Narita International Airport
Fleet size 4
Destinations 9
Parent company Spring Airlines, JTB Corporation, other Japanese investors
Headquarters Narita, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Key people Hiroshi Ukai, Representative Director
Total equity JPY 6 billion
Website jp.ch.com

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. The airline 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 17 December 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 (JAL) pilots. Its head of operations, Minoru Uchida, was formerly a JAL pilot.[7]

Destinations

The airline serves the following destinations:[9]

Country City Airport Notes
China Chongqing Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport
China Harbin
[10] 		Harbin Taiping International Airport
China Wuhan Wuhan Tianhe International Airport
Japan Hiroshima Hiroshima Airport
Japan Osaka[11] Kansai International Airport
Japan Saga Saga Airport
Japan Sapporo[12] New Chitose Airport
Japan Takamatsu Takamatsu Airport
Japan Tokyo Narita International Airport Base

Fleet

Spring Airlines Japan Boeing 737-800 at Narita International Airport

Spring Airlines Japan took delivery of its first aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, on 17 July 2013.[13] Although Spring Airlines uses Airbus A320 aircraft, the 737 was chosen for its Japanese subsidiary due to the Boeing's greater popularity among Japanese airlines and the relative ease of finding 737-qualified pilots.[7]

As of August 2016 the Spring Airlines Japan fleet consists of the following aircraft:[14]

Spring Airlines Japan Fleet
Aircraft In Fleet Orders Passengers
P Y Total
Boeing 737-800 4 1 18 171 189
Total 4 1

The aircraft are fitted in a 189-seat configuration with 18 seats (the first three rows) curtained off as a premium cabin.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "会社概要." Spring Airlines Japan. Retrieved on 29 May 2014. "〒286-0048　千葉県成田市公津の杜4丁目11番2号"
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ "Spring Airlines Japan approved, delays launch to 2014: report". CAPA. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  4. ↑ Wang, Ying (30 August 2011). "Spring Airlines looks to Japan for expansion". China Daily. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  5. ↑ Sanders, Fay (30 September 2011). "Spring Airlines on hunt for JV partner and first five narrowbodies". Ascend. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. 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.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ "路線図". Spring Airlines Japan. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  10. ↑ "Spring Airlines Japan adds Tokyo – Harbin route in Jan 2017". routesonline. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  11. ↑ "Spring Airlines Japan plans Tokyo – Osaka flights from Sep 2016". routesonline. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  12. ↑ "Spring Airlines Japan Plans Hokkaido Service from Aug 2016". routesonline. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  13. ↑ "Spring Airlines Japan's lone 737-800 finally touches down in Sapporo". CH Aviation. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  14. ↑ "Global Airline Guide 2016 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2016): 18.
  15. ↑ 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。
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