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.■
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