AirAsia Japan History and Operations Explained

AirAsia Japan was launched in 2014 as a joint venture between AirAsia Group and All Nippon Airways (ANA). The airline began operations on June 23, 2014.

AirAsia Japan operates a fleet of Airbus A320-200 aircraft, which are configured to have 180 seats in a single-class layout.

The airline's main hub is Tokyo's Narita International Airport, which provides convenient access to destinations across Japan and Asia.

AirAsia Japan has a fascinating history. Tony Fernandes, the director and chief executive officer (CEO) of AirAsia, dubbed the two incarnations of AirAsia Japan as "Part 1" and "Part 2".

The airline has undergone significant changes over the years.

AirAsia Japan's joint venture with All Nippon Airways (ANA) was a significant move, but it ultimately didn't work out. In June 2013, AirAsia decided to exit its investment in AirAsia Japan, making the company a wholly owned subsidiary of ANA.

AirAsia Japan's struggles were partly due to an online booking system that wasn't fully translated into Japanese, making it frustrating for domestic customers. This was just one of the reasons the joint venture failed.

The airline continued operation under its current branding until October 2013, before being rebranded as Vanilla Air, effective 1 November 2013.

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The joint venture between AirAsia and ANA didn't quite take off as planned. AirAsia decided to exit its investment in AirAsia Japan in June 2013, making the company a wholly owned subsidiary of ANA.

The airline was struggling with low load factors, and its online booking system was not fully translated into Japanese, causing frustration for customers. This was a major issue, especially since travel agent distribution was a significant component of domestic airline sales in Japan.

AirAsia Japan's main hub at Tokyo Narita was also a problem, as it had severe restrictions on early morning and late night flights. This limited the airline's flexibility and made it harder to operate.

AirAsia Japan continued operation under its current branding until October 26, 2013, before rebranding as Vanilla Air on November 1, 2013. The airline's aircraft were transferred to Indonesia AirAsia, and Vanilla Air started operations with two of its own aircraft.

All of AirAsia Japan's staff were inherited by Vanilla Air, and the airline focused on serving resort destinations. Vanilla Air planned to expand to ten aircraft by fiscal year 2015 and serve both domestic and international routes from its new hub at Nagoya's Chubu Centrair International Airport.

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The board decision to cease operations was made by AirAsia Japan's board of directors, who notified the airline that they had decided to stop flying with immediate effect.

This decision was made in response to the highly challenging operating conditions in Japan, which had been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

AirAsia Japan's Representative Director and COO, Jun Aida, expressed his gratitude to loyal guests and stakeholders, stating that the decision was not taken lightly and was made after conducting a thorough business review.

The airline has canceled all flights and will be in contact with affected guests via email within the next seven days to provide further information.

The steps taken to reach this decision were made in accordance with Japan's Civil Aeronautics Act, which the carrier is required to follow.

AirAsia Japan's board of directors made the decision to cease operations, which was respected and agreed to by the Malaysia-based airline group.

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AirAsia Japan relaunched on 29 October 2017, with its first flight from Nagoya Centrair to Sapporo.

The airline had been working towards this moment for several years, with initial plans to commence operations in summer 2015. Its initial capital consisted of JPY7 billion (US$69 million).

AirAsia Japan received its air operating license to start operating flights on 6 October 2015. This was a major milestone for the airline.

The airline's first three destinations from Nagoya Centrair were announced as Sendai, Sapporo, and Taipei, Taiwan. Services from Nagoya Centrair to Sendai and Taipei officially launched by August 2019.

AirAsia Japan's fleet expansion plans were ambitious, with plans to expand from two Airbus A320 aircraft to four by the end of 2015.

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AirAsia Japan's operations were marked by two distinct periods. The airline's first incarnation launched in August 2012, operating from Tokyo's Narita International Airport before rebranding as Vanilla Air in October 2013.

The airline relaunched under the AirAsia Japan name in October 2017, with operations based at Nagoya's Chubu Centrair International Airport.

AirAsia Japan operated until October 2020, when it ceased operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on travel demand.

The airline's employees were invited to apply for voluntary retirement before the shutdown, but these efforts failed to solve the carrier's financial problems.

AirAsia Japan filed for bankruptcy proceedings in the Tokyo District Court on November 17, 2020, becoming the first Japanese airline to cease operation following the pandemic's start.

The airline's closure was approved on September 30, 2020, with the formal announcement made on October 5, 2020.

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AirAsia Japan's fleet was made up of three Airbus A320-200s, which could seat 180 passengers each. These aircraft were the mainstay of the airline's operations.

The airline also had an order for one Airbus A320neo, but it's unclear if they were able to take delivery of the aircraft before shutting down in 2020.

Here's a summary of AirAsia Japan's fleet:

AirAsia Japan's fleet was relatively small, consisting of only four aircraft. The airline operated three Airbus A320-200s, which are also known as A320ceos.

These A320-200s had a seating capacity of 180 passengers each.

AirAsia Japan also had one Airbus A320neo on order, but it's unclear if the airline was able to take delivery of it. The A320neo was last spotted in Toulouse in February 2020.

Here's a breakdown of AirAsia Japan's fleet:

AirAsia Japan participated in BIG, the frequent-flyer program of AirAsia and its affiliated airlines. This program allowed customers to earn points and rewards on flights with AirAsia and its partner airlines.

One of the notable airlines that partnered with BIG was AirAsia, a low-cost carrier with a presence in multiple countries. AirAsia is known for its affordable fares and convenient flight options.

For customers who flew with AirAsia Japan, the BIG frequent-flyer program provided a way to earn points and rewards on their flights. This program was available to customers who flew with AirAsia and its affiliated airlines.

Here's a list of some of the airlines that were part of the BIG frequent-flyer program:

Note that the BIG frequent-flyer program was available to customers who flew with these airlines and their affiliated carriers.