AirAsia Japan has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320 aircraft.
The new low-cost carrier will launch commercial services on 1 August, initially flying from Tokyo’s Narita airport to Sapporo and Fukuoka, with flights to Okinawa getting underway two days later.
The airline will then launch international flights to the Korean cities of Seoul (Incheon) and Busan in October. By the end of 2012, AirAsia’s fleet will have expanded to four aircraft, all of which will be configured in a single-class layout with 180 seats.
“We are extremely happy to take delivery of our brand new Airbus A320. Our aim is to provide opportunities for everyone to fly with low fares. With the A320’s cabin comfort and operational reliability, we want to offer better access, in particular for the Japanese travelling public, and make them feel easy to fly,” said AirAsia Japan’s President, Kazuyuki Iwakata.
“We are delighted to welcome AirAsia Japan as our newest Airbus operator. With its wide cabin, the A320 offers the quickest turn-around time of any single aisle aircraft in its category, making it a fantastic asset for low-cost carriers” said Airbus’ Chief Operating Officer for Customers, John Leahy. “With our popular A320 Family, the Japanese low-cost market has the potential to grow as much as the low-cost carriers’ have grown in Europe or North America.”
AirAsia Japan is a joint venture between ANA and AirAsia.
