Japan's Newest Carrier ZIPAIR Starts Flight Service as Cargo Only

画像：ZIPAIRプレスリリース

ZIPAIR Tokyo or ZIPAIR, a newly established low cost carrier subsidiary of Japan Airlines, inaugurated its scheduled cargo flight from Narita to Bangkok, Thailand on June 3, 2020.

ZIPAIR, a whole owned by JAL, operates two Boeing 787-8s. The new LCC aims at starting other routes to Southeast Asian destination and trans-Pacific routes.  

The carrier originally planned to start its passenger flight between Narita and Suvarnabhumi Airport from 14 May 2020 but it postponed the start due to the pandemic of COVID-19. 

Over 90 percent of scheduled international flights have been stopped, the demand for air cargo is  steadily rising and ZIPAIR has decided to launch its scheduled cargo flight at first.

ZIPAIR offers four cargo flights a week as below. 

ZG51　Narita 17:20/ Bankok 22:00 　Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat

ZG52　Bangkok 23:30/Narita 07:45（+1）　Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat

The carrier has not announced a flight schedule for its passenger flights yet.  As ZIPAIR has a plan to operate Narita-Incheon flights, it is probable that the flight to and from Korea will take place in daytime and Bangkok service will take place in night. ZIPAIR has announced its plan to start the Korean flight effective from July 1.  However, passenger service between Japan and South Korea is still under restriction and business environment is not favorable yet.

The new LCC has also announced its plans to start Narita-Honolulu flights from winter schedule of 2020.

Visit ZIPAIR website. http://www.zipairtokyo.com/en/

Mitsubishi Heavy Succeeds in Launching Spy Satellite #7

H2A #41 launched carrying the government payload of information gathering satellite optical #7. February 9, 2020, Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) successfully launched its H2A rocket #41 from Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima, Japan at 10:34 a.m. (JST) on February 9, 2020. The booster had a payload of the government of Japan: Information Gathering Satellite Kogaku (Optical) #7.

H2A launching  of the day marked 35th success consecutively and its non-failure rate reached to 97.6%.

  After the launching of ballistic missile in 1998 by North Korea, Japan started its program to develop indigenous spy satellite constellation.  Today two optical sensor satellites and two radar satellites are orbiting the globe and Japan can take photography of all points on earth once per day.

The Kogaku #7 is to succeed #5 of the same type launched in March 2015. With the successful launching of the #7, operation of eight satellites, including old generation birds that surpassed design longevity has been possible by the satellite information center under the Cabinet Office. ■

Japanese air force will be renamed Air and Space Self Defense Force

The government of Japan has started its study to rename the Air Self Defense Force to the Air and Space Self Defense Force, as an attempt to strengthen defense in outer space, a new critical domain for Japan's security. This will b e the first revision of the name of the self defense forces in ground, maritime and air since the foundation of the SDF in 1954.

The new name and organization will take effect by FY2023 after revision of the Self Defense and relevant laws.

JASDF will launch 'space operation unit' in FY2020 that will start from April 1 this year.  This unit will be expanded afterward to be able to operate fully by FY2023, expecting information sharing with the Space Force of U.S.

Japan is aware of Chinese and Russian military capability development in space by developing 'killer satellite' to attack other countries' space assets.■

Who is Best Punctual Airliner in Domestic Network in Japan?

定時運航率で見る日本のエアラインのパフォーマンス

The Editor

October 14, 2019

Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has released FY2018 data on punctual departure performance records.

Japanese fiscal year covers April to March.

Accordingly, the list below shows the performance rate compiled from April 2018 to March 2019 by respective carriers. For your information, Japan Airlines in the following data includes JAL’s affiliates of J Air and Hokkaido Air Systems while ANA data also includes ANA Wings. 

Punctuality departure performance by definition means all schedule flights that could depart within 15 minutes of the schedules. However, MLIT data only covers those aircraft with 100 or more seats.

Punctual performance of carries by rank

(Unit: %, parenthesis means FY2017 data)

1st SKYMARK　 93.91 (93.06)

2nd STARFLIER 93.88 （89.86）

3rd Air Do 90.76   (90.06)

4th ANA 90.51 (88.52)

5th JAL 89.91 (90.01)

6 AirAsia Japan 88.63 (90.42)

7 Solaseed Air 87.16 (87.75)

8 Spring Japan 85.08 (83.32)

9 Peach 82.61 (79.17)

10 Jet Star Japan 81.58 (85.17)

11 Japan Trans Ocean 80.39 (83.90)

12 Vanila Air 79.33 (80.94)

I will be pleased if you could refer to the above data when you plan domestic flight in Japan next time.

ANA-Toyota Boshoku Win 2019 Good Design Award for Cabin Passenger Seat

ANA-Toyota Boshoku Joint Designed Passenger Seat Awarded as ‘Good Design’

A new seat for domestic economy class jointly developed by ANA and Toyota Boshoku.

A newly designed passenger seat by ANA and Toyota Boshoku, a major car interior specialized firm as a Toyota Motor group, won the ‘2019 Good Design Award.’ The seat is for domestic routes and ANA will introduce the seats from Fall, 2019.

The winning seat is designed to accommodate any physiques and features of higher convenience for passengers while the slim seat design is intended to give more openness in the cabin. 

Annual Good Desing Award is now a global design competition with the participation of companies and organizations in and out of Japan for better design applications for social challenges. Its icon of ‘G mark’ is accepted as a symbol of excellent designs.　The designs reflect know-how of both ANA as experienced carrier and Toyota Boshoku for manufacturing quality it earned during decades of car seats for automobiles.

SKYMARK will launch NARITA-SAIPAN flights within this year

SKYMARK Extends its Wings Out of Japan: Its first international service is Narita-Saipan

September 24, 2019

The editor

Skymark, the third-largest airline in Japan, formally announced its plans to launch Narita-Sapan, the first scheduled international flight for the once-bankrupt airline.

  Skymark already operated chartered flights to Saipan in Mach, then followed by August and September while studying of launching scheduled flight service to the island destination, once a popular spot for Japanese travelers but now no JAL and ANA service is available.

   However, Skymark will launch its scheduled flight between Narita and Saipan starting sometime this year as daily service.

   At the same time, the airline will start domestic flight of Narita-Chubu (Nagoya) to attract those Japanese tourists in central Japan to Saipan desitnaion.

   Skymark once envisioned to launch Narita-New York line with its planned purchasing of A380s. However, the compnay soon filed bankruptcy and its expansion of network beyond Japanese borders became a pie in the sky.

   The airline has only operated scheduled passenger flights in the domestic network.

   As of today, there is no direct flight from Japan to Saipan. Japan Airlines ceased its flights in 2005.  Delta Airlines also finished passenger flights from Japan in May 2018 and Saipan has become a distant destination without direct flight service from Japan. Saipan may get the attention of those leisure tourists from japan once again.

   Skymark will announce details of the flight schedule later.

JAL's New Long-haul LCC is named ZIPAIR Tokyo

March 8) Japan Airlines’s newly launched low-cost carrier (LCC) subsidiary announced its corporate name and business plans on Friday.

According to TBL, a preparatory corporation before launching carrier service, it is called ZIPAIR Tokyo and hoping to start regular flight services from Tokyo Narita to Bangkok and Seoul as early as mid-2020, just before Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic games.

The new airliner will start flight services with two Boeing 787-8s leased from Japan Airlines.

ZIPAIR wishes to enter Narita to US west coast destinations as early as 2021.

Destinations of Bangkok and Seoul were selected as high traffic routes connecting with Japan.

However, as more LCCs and legacy airlines are operating on the same routes, ZIPAIR will appeal with half the price of legacy airlines and more spacious cabin for passengers to differentiate with them.

Japan Startts Collection of Departure Tax at Airport

Tips for Travelers to Japan: Pay Departure Tax At Airports, Effective from January 7, 2019

Japan introduced a departure tax on Monday, collecting 1,000 yen (about USD $9.2) per head from people leaving the country by aircraft or ship, regardless of their nationalities.

The tax is added to airfares or ship fares. Revenues from this tax are intended for measures to accept more visitors from abroad, as the government aims to make Japan a tourism-oriented country.

The government estimates departure tax revenue at 6 billion yen in fiscal 2018 through March and 50 billion yen in fiscal 2019.

Those who to leave Japan within 24 hours after their transit entry, as well as children under the age of two, are exempted from the departure tax.

The levy is not imposed as well on those who depart from Japan after entering the country due to bad weather or other unavoidable circumstances.

Kansai Airport Getting Back Normal Earlier

Railroad Access Resumes from September 18

Two railroad operators connecting the Kansai International Airport and opposite main land, JR West Japan and Nankai Railroad, have decided on Sept 15 that they will operate their train services from the starting trains on September 18.

Motor access still restricted 

Kansai Airport permits only bus service and no personally owned or rent-a-cars are allowed to trespass the connecting bridge that had been badly damaged by a collision of a tanker during the typhoon day and only half of the original lanes are being used for two-way traffic.

Terminal 1 Back to Service from Sept 21

Currently closed sections of the Terminal 1 will be operational fully on September 21 resulting all flight schedule to normal.

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For the latest news and information, you are advised to visit the website of Kansai Airport.

https://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en

Kansai Airport Has No Flight Operations on Sept 6

Typhoon-struck Kansai Airport will have no flight operations on September 6.

At present, there is no definite plans to resume full operations of the airport. For one thing, the connecting bridge remains damaged with a collision of a fuel tanker on September 4 during the storm.

However, its runway B with fewer damage  will resume operations in a week, the Kansai Airport Company said.

Kansai Airport Closed Due to Super Typhoon

 Sankei Shimbun

Typhoon Hit Kansai Airport Suspends Operations; Connecting Bridge Collided by a Tanker

4 September 2018

Western Japan was hit by a strong typhoon on Tuesday and Kansai International Airport reported a flooding at its passenger terminal, apron and a runway. The airport built on reclaimed island was hit by high wave and heavy rain as the typhoon, one of the largest scale in recent years, passed the Osaka Bay area in daytime Tuesday. Water as deep as tens of centimeters covered the airport's critical area and the Airport operations stopped since afternoon Tuesday and the administration admitted it would be rather hard to resume all operations on September 5.

To worsen the situations, a tanker hit the connecting bridge to the airport in late afternoon on Tuesday, making the airport isolated from main land.

SS Houun  Maru, 2,590 tons, hit the bridge on 1:32 pm local time as it lost its control by high waves. There was no injury to its crew of 11. The tanker had been anchored nearby the airport after unloading jet fuel at receiving pier of the airport.

Imagery right after the collision shows motor road section of the bridge was damaged. There is also a report a girder of the bridge was hit as well.

Since Kansai Airport needs this bridge, both motorways and railroad, for access from and to the mainland, this accident may further delay resumption of normal operations at least until Japanese authorities finish a field investigation. There is fast boat connection between the Airport and Kobe that has been suspended its service due to rough seas on Tuesday.

Double-punched Kansai Airport needs to keep everything under control as soon as possible to resume its everyday operations. ■

UPDATE:　The damaged connecting bridge still keeps half of four lanes for motor traffic. However, traffic is still being closed due to weather conditions and the investigation by authorities should be finished first.

UPDATE: Reportedly almost 3,000 people are being confined in the airport island as the traffic is not available as of 10 pm JST, September 4.

New Air Force One of Japan Arrives at Chitose

Recapping Japanese Air Force One: Enter 777-300ERs, Exit 747-400s

JASDF welcomes your ideas on how to make use of retired aircraft

Asahi Shimbun

From various domestic reporting,

First example of a pair of new Boeing 777-300ERs ordered by the government of
Japan (GOJ) has arrived at  Shin Chitose Airport, Hokkaido, on August 17.
The aircraft will undergo an official commissioning ceremony at the adjacent
Chitose Air Base of the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) followed by
preparations for its full-fledged operations from April 2019 including pilots and
crew training.

The new aircraft features a new lively inspired from the national flag of Japan,
with air stream red line painted on white airframe and big circle of red on vertical
wing. Another example will arrive to Japan by December.

In 2013 GOJ started replacement of current pair of Boeing 747-400s that started
operations in 1993.  In the following year, it was downselected to a pair of Boeing
777-300ERs. Estimated cost of JPY37 billion a piece, the new GOJ exclusive
aircraft fleet will show better fuel economy and extended range to carry such VIPs as
the Emperor, prime ministers and such for their overseas trips. As there is no
operator of passenger 747s in Japan and there will be no place for maintenance of
Boeing 747s in Japan after 2019, GOJ had tochoose a new aircraft to replace the
747s.

Maintenance of the new fleet is contracted to ANA instead of Japan Air Lines that
currently is designated for the Boeing 747-400s.

#1 aircraft was assembled in Seattle, Washington and underwent its interior work
by Jet Aviation in Basel, Switzerland.

As the current fleet of Boeing 747-400s. 20-1011 and 20-1012, will cease operations
by the end of March 2019, JASDF has started request for information on how to
make use of the aircraft after their retirement. GOJ acquired the two aircraft in the
early 1990s with JPY 36 billion. The fleet logged over 16,000 flight hours by
supporting Japanese diplomacy since then.

As they are the very first aircraft for exclusive use of GOJ, they have historical
value and known for their contribution to Japan.

JASDF held a briefing session for interested parties to make use of the 747s after
the retirement where over 15 corporations and organizations took part in. RFI will
be closed on August 24 and JASDF is reportedly to finalize its plans.

Some of retired JASDF aircraft have been preserved and exhibited at JASDF
museum in Hamamatsu Air Base and other places. But they huge birds. Since
the 747s have been based on Chitose Air Base, its home town Chitose city
sought after a chance to preserve the aircraft but it gave up the idea after
knowing it takes over JPY 100 million annually for its maintenance.

JASDF welcomes your innovative plans and proposals. ■