ANA and AirAsia get together

Struggling Narita Airport, 40 miles from Tokyo, is probably the biggest winner with a plan announced last week for the establishment of AirAsia Japan.  This is subject to obtaining the relevant approvals.  Operating under the AirAsia brand, it is to serve both domestic and international destinations when commencing operations in August 2012.  It will be the first low-cost carrier to be based at Narita International Airport which is suffering from the opening up of Haneda, Tokyo’s main (and virtually downtown) airport, to international flights.

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.

Having already established an unmatched network, especially within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, AirAsia likewise has been looking for a business partner with strong Japanese market influence to further expand its scope, as well as contribute to strengthening bilateral ties between ASEAN and Japan.  Historically it has always been seen as a more dynamic airline than the much longer established JAL. www.ana.co.jp www.airasia.com

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