Final Unit of H2A Successfully Launches Global Warming Monitor Satellite in Orbit, New Generation H3 Standing By

 

June 29, 2025

H2A Rocket Unit 50 launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture at 1:33 a.m. on the 29th

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched the final H2A rocket, the 50th in the series, early on Saturday, placing the “Ibuki GW” satellite, which monitors greenhouse gases, into its target orbit in space.

This marks the 49th successful launch out of 50 attempts. After more than 20 years of supporting Japan's space development, the H2A rocket has concluded its mission with a successful final launch, passing the baton to its successor, the H3 rocket. 

The H2A rocket No. 50 was launched at 1:33 a.m. on the 29th from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture.

The separation of the solid rocket boosters and the fairing, which protects the satellite from high temperatures and vibrations, as well as the combustion of the second-stage engine, proceeded as planned. Approximately 16 minutes later, the “Ibuki GW” was separated and successfully placed into its target orbit in space.

The H2A is a large-scale core rocket developed as the successor to the H2.It completed its first launch in 2001 and has since achieved success in all launches except for the sixth mission in 2003.

It has been responsible for launching numerous satellites essential to Japan's national security and social infrastructure, including information-gathering satellites and weather satellites operated by the Cabinet Secretariat, as well as the asteroid probe “Hayabusa 2” and the lunar probe “SLIM (Slim),” which achieved Japan's first lunar landing.

Ambitous Airline from Japan Eyes to Restart its International Service from New Airport

 

Skymark Aims to Reenter the International Market---The independent Japanese airline once challenged international service

12 June 2025

The Editor

In conjunction with the start of international flight service of Kobe Airport,  Skymark Airlines announced in its May 15, 2025 financial results that it will re-enter the international flight market.

 First, Skymark will operate several charter flights in FY2025 to study the business potential for international flight development. It is also clearly stated in its annual business policy.

 Although Skymark has not clarified the Japanese origin and destination, Kobe Airport is expected. as Kobe Airport is Skymark's Kansai base; it opened its Terminal 2 building on April 18, 2025 and began accepting international charter flights.

 Kobe Airport aims to begin operating scheduled international flights around 2030, and Skymark is expected to look to switch from charter flights to scheduled flights around that time.

Kobe Airport (UKB), Obayashi Corp.

Are destinations in East Asia?

Overseas destinations are also undecided, but since the company only owns Boeing 737 aircraft, it is expected to be in East Asia.

 Previous international charter flights from Kobe Airport have been to Incheon, Shanghai, Nanjing, Taipei, and Taichung. Skymark is also likely to offer flights to any of these three countries.

 We do not know whether Skymark will fly to/from airports that overlap with these countries or choose different airports, but if they aim for different cities, Busan, Kaohsiung, or Hong Kong would be candidates.

Will the Saipan route be revived?

Skymark made its first foray into international flights with the Narita-Saipan in November 2019. However, the service was forced to be suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it has not been restored.

 The Marianas Visitors Authority has been pushing Skymark to reopen the Saipan route. Therefore, the resumption of the Saipan route would be considered. However, inbound traffic has been stronger recently than in 2019, and the Saipan route, with its strong outbound traffic, may not seem to be a high priority.

 Still, a variety of destinations will be considered during the charter phase, and the Saipan route will likely be revived as one of them.■

Centrair (IATA airport code NGO won the best Regional Airport Award by SKYTRAX for 11 consecutive years!

 

Central Japan International Airport, known as Centrair, near Nagoya, was ranked first in the world for the 11th consecutive year in the "Regional Airport" category and for the 15th consecutive year in the "Regional Airport in Asia" category in the latest customer service evaluation of international airports conducted by SKYTRAX (U.K.).In the "Regional Airport in Asia" category, the airport was ranked No. 1 for the 15th consecutive year.Centrair, in addition to its traditional reputation for cleanliness, received particularly high marks this year in the areas of airport staffing and security inspections.

New Side Business of Japan Airlines: Curry in Pack

A airline specialized website Flight Aware reported an interesting story about Japan Airlines (JAL) in the Japanese language as follows

JAL Lounge Beef Curry Sales Surpass One Million Servings; Campaign Includes Spoon Not for Sale

By Yusuke KOHASE

　Japan Airlines and its affiliated trading company JALUX announced on February 28 that the total sales of the popular "JAL Special Original Beef Curry" menu has surpassed 1 million servings.A campaign to commemorate the achievement will be launched in March, and a talk event with actor and musician Nao Matsushita will also be held.

JAL Special Original Beef Curry" (courtesy of JALUX), which has sold more than 1 million servings

JALUX

A not-for-sale curry spoon (provided by JALUX) will be given away to those who purchase the "JAL Special Original Beef Curry" sold by JALUX.

　Two types of campaigns are being offered: for the purchase of 10 servings or mileage award redemption, an original, not-for-sale curry spoon will be given away.Ten lucky winners will also win a lounge curry plate.Purchases and redemption between March 3 and May 6 at the "JAL Shopping JAL Mall Store" mail order site or the JAL website "JAL Totto Oki no Ippin" will be eligible.

　A campaign will also be held on X (formerly Twitter): follow JAL's official X account and post your JAL Curry photo and feedback on X with the hashtags "#JAL Curry" and "#JAL Curry 1 Million Servings Commemorative".JAL LOUNGE Curry Man, which is served at the international first class lounge, will be given away.The campaign period is from March 3 to May 6.

　A talk event will be held in Tokyo at the end of March.The details of the event will be announced on the campaign website on May 6.Matsushita often flies on JAL flights in her private life, so she will be sharing her own experiences at the event.

　In addition, JALUX's original "JAL SELECTION" brand food products, such as curry and curry buns, will be sold in stores and at Tsutaya Denki in Futakotamagawa, Tokyo, on March 27 and 28.

　JAL Special Original Beef Curry is a popular menu item offered at international JAL lounges in Haneda and Narita.Sales began in August 2020, after 90% of international flights were suspended due to the Corona disaster and the lounge curries lost their place.Initially sold in 1 kg packs, it will be sold in individual 200 gram packages from February 2023.In January of this year, it was also sold inside the ticket gates of JR Shinagawa Station (related article).

JAL Collaborates with a start-up to Commercialize Space Tours by Balloon, Leveraging its Know-how in Aviation Business

 

January 20, 2025

edited by Aviation and Space News from Japan

Travel Voice https://www.travelvoice.jp/ reports a new venture by Japan Airlines and a balloon flight startup aiming at launching commercial near space tourism.

Iwatani Giken and Japan Airlines (JAL) announced that they will collaborate to commercialize and popularize space flight experiences.JAL is participating in the "OPEN UNIVERSE PROJECT," a co-creation project sponsored by Iwatani Giken, and will collaborate to create new value by utilizing the knowledge and assets accumulated through the JAL Group's air transportation business.

 The "OPEN UNIVERSE PROJECT" is a space tourism project for the private sector, which is being co-created by companies and organizations in a variety of industries with the aim of making space travel safe, secure, and affordable for everyone.

Iwatani Giken, headquartered in Ebetsu City, Hokkaido, is a start-up company involved in the balloon-based space business.