Jetstar Japan takes delivery of its first Airbus A320 aircraft

Jetstar Japan, one of Japan’s newest low-cost carriers (LCC), has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320 aircraft in Toulouse, France. The Japanese carrier will start commercial services in July operating from Narita to Kansai, Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Okinawa with an initial fleet of three aircraft. This fleet will grow to 24 aircraft within three years.

Jetstar Japan’s A320s are configured in a high comfort all economy layout with 180 seats. Each aircraft is powered by IAE V2500 engines.  

“We are extremely happy to take delivery of our brand new Airbus A320. With its wider seats and more spacious cabin than the competition, we are positioned to provide better value that our customers will appreciate as well as fast turnarounds, which is key to our business model,” Jetstar Japan President Miyuki Suzuki said. “We aim to become the number one LCC in the Japanese market, and the A320 will help us achieve our goals.” 

“We are delighted to welcome Jetstar Japan as our newest Airbus operator. The A320 has the widest most comfortable cabin and the best performance of any single-aisle aircraft. Passengers love it and operators love it too,” said Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers John Leahy. “The A320 is already the aircraft of choice in Asia with some 80 per cent market share in the LCC market.”

Jetstar Japan, established in 2011, is a joint venture between the Qantas Group, Japan Airlines (JAL), Mitsubishi Corporation and Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation. Jetstar Japan’s Airbus fleet is from an order for 110 A320 Family aircraft placed by the Qantas Group in October 2011.

As of today, nearly 8,400 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold to more than 340 customers and operators worldwide, making it the world’s best selling commercial jetliner ever. With proven reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single-aisle aircraft.

Airbus Media

Japan's Peach Aviation launches first flight

Japan's low-cost carrier Peach Aviation started operations on 1 March, with the launch of two commercial domestic services. The first flight, MM101, departed from Osaka's Kansai International Airport at 07:17 local, landing at New Chitose Airport near Sapporo at 09:09. There were 162 passengers on board, a spokesman said.

The carrier launched its second flight, on the Osaka-Fukuoka route, about 20 minutes later carrying 168 passengers. Peach Aviation will operate three daily round trip flights on the Osaka-Sapporo route and four daily round trip flights on the Osaka-Fukuoka route.

Two new routes will begin in April - a twice-daily Osaka-Kagoshima service on 1 April and a twice-daily Osaka-Nagasaki service on 25 April - to be followed by the carrier's first international serivce which is scheduled to begin on 8 May from Osaka to Seoul's Incheon airport, the spokesman said.
It is planning to add three new routes within the next three months to Okinawa, Hong Kong and Taipei, he added.

Peach Aviation was set up in February 2011 with Y30 million in equity commitments from three investors: All Nippon Airlines owns 33.4%, Hong Kong First Investment Group holds a 33.3% stake and investment firm Innovation Network Corporation of Japan owns the remaining 33.3% stake. The airline operates a fleet of three Airbus A320s and has another seven on order.

Flight Global