ANA and AirAsia to form 'AirAsia Japan'

ANA Group, Japan’s largest airline and  low cost carrier AirAsia, are teaming up to form AirAsia Japan, a new low-cost airline. AirAsia Japan will be the first low-cost carrier to be based at Narita International Airport. Operating under the AirAsia brand, it will serve both domestic and international destinations when commencing operations in August 2012, subject to obtaining the relevant approvals. In Japan, the aviation market is undergoing rapid transformation with developments including the expansion of Open Skies agreements and increased domestic competition from road and rail-based travel. In addition, Narita airport, a major international hub serving Tokyo, is seeking to increase capacity with the introduction of a new terminal and is expected to attract many low-cost carriers and foreign airlines. ANA has been seeking opportunities to launch a new low-cost business based at Narita and, after analysis, has concluded that partnering with an existing low-cost carrier is the most efficient and strategically advantageous option.