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 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.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. 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 CKGZUCKChongqing Jiangbei International Airport
Hiroshima Chūgoku Japan HIJRJOAHiroshima Airport
Osaka
[10] 		Honshu Japan KIXRJBBKansai International Airport
Saga Kyūshū Japan HSGRJFSSaga Airport
Sapporo
[11] 		Hokkaido Japan CTSRJCCNew Chitose Airport
Takamatsu Shikoku Japan TAKRJOTTakamatsu Airport
Tokyo Kantō Japan NRTRJAANarita International Airport
Wuhan Huangpi China WUHZHHHWuhan Tianhe International Airport

SAJ may also eventually operate international services from Japan to secondary cities in Taiwan.

Fleet

Spring Airlines Japan Boeing 737-800 at Narita International Airport

SAJ took delivery of its first Boeing 737-800, JA01GR, at New Chitose Airport in 17/7/2013.[12] 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.[13] In December 2015, 2 737-800 from Air Berlin were added as part of the retirement of Air Berlin 737 aircraft. It's one of 10 737-800 from Air Berlin for Japan.

The Spring Airlines Japan fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of August 2016):[14]

Spring Airlines Japan Fleet
Aircraft In Fleet Orders Passengers
P Y
Boeing 737-800 3 2 21 168

References

  1. ↑ "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"
  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 plans Tokyo – Osaka flights from Sep 2016". routesonline. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  11. ↑ "Spring Airlines Japan Plans Hokkaido Service from Aug 2016". routesonline. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  12. ↑ "Spring Airlines Japan's lone 737-800 finally touches down in Sapporo". CH Aviation. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  13. ↑ 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。
  14. ↑ "Global Airline Guide 2016 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2016): 18.
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