First Trans-Pacific LCC Flight Started by ZIPAIR

 

Asahi Shimbun reported the inaugural Narita-Los Angeles flight by ZIPAIR, LCC brand of Japan Airlines.

First flight of LCC across the Pacific Ocean with 53 passengers and 11 tons of fully loaded cargo　（Photo ZIPAIR)

ZIPAIR, a low-cost carrier (LCC) affiliated with Japan Airlines, launched a new route between Narita and Los Angeles on December 25, 2021. According to the company, this is the first time for an LCC to directly connect the Asian region with North America.

The first flight departed at 2:39 p.m. with 10 crew members, 53 passengers, and about 11 tons of cargo at full capacity.

At the inauguration ceremony held at the airport, Shingo Nishida, president of ZIPAIR, said, "Many reservations we have received so far are a sign of the expectation for us to be the first LCC in the world to cross the Pacific Ocean. We would like to meet their expectations by offering LCC prices and services on routes that were previously only available to full-service carriers.” 

The number of flights on this route will be increased from three to six per week starting January 14, 2022.

Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai, who attended the ceremony, said, " I am looking forward to the day when many people will fly to see the performance of Shohei Ohtani (of the U.S. Major League Baseball team) on ZIPAIR after the COVID comes to an end." ■