China carrier Spring Airlines is reportedly establishing a low cost subsidiary in Japan.
The potential airline will operate from Narita International and serve domestic routes from the hub to Hiroshima, Takamatsu and Saga before the end of May next year, according to local reports.
Hiroshi Ukai, who has past experience at the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is being lined up to be chairman of the firm, allegedly to be named Spring Japan.
He said that service on the initial three routes will be operated two times per day and the budget carrier will later introduce international flights. Spring Airlines will first deploy three Boeing 737s upon launch and increase the fleet to 20 jets by 2017.
In order to obtain the Air Operator License, Spring Airlines has to establish a joint venture in Japan, with a stake of no more than 33% (Stipulated in Japan’s domestic law, foreign investment ratio shall be less than one third of the total capital). The remaining 67% will be shared by 10 Japanese enterprises.
Spring Airlines has been hiring pilots, flight attendants and other staff in Japan and already has 198 employees in place.
Spring Airlines mainly operates out of Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai. At present, it offers direct flight to two destinations in Japan, Saga and Takamatsu.
Comments are closed.