AirJapan (NQ, Tokyo Haneda) will begin revenue operations on February 9, 2024, with flights between Tokyo Narita and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. The airline is a subsidiary of ANA Holdings and will focus on medium-haul international routes.
The statement announcing the flights indicates a 324-passenger all-economy class B787-8 will operate the six days a week service. In addition to flights already offered on the route by ANA, the new low-cost carrier will take on JAL - Japan Airlines, ZIPAIR, Thai Airways International, and Thai AirAsia X on the city pair.
While frequently publicised as a start-up, Air Japan is an existing airline, albeit operating flights for ANA - All Nippon Airways (NH, Tokyo Haneda) in aircraft painted in ANA's livery. ANA's launch of Air Japan as a standalone brand with its own aircraft is seen as a competitive response to Japan Airlines' low-cost medium-haul subsidiary, ZIPAIR. Air Japan President Hideki Mineguchi said the Bangkok flights will increase to daily in April, and around that time, additional routes will be announced, indicating flights from Osaka Kansai were likely.
ANA Holdings President and CEO Koji Shibata has said Air Japan will focus on routes within six or seven hours flying time of Tokyo, while another subsidiary, Peach Aviation (MM, Osaka Kansai), will target shorter sectors, leaving ANA to concentrate on long-haul and premium markets. ANA Holdings is yet to say how many aircraft they will allocate to Air Japan.
