AirAsia travels to Japan

AIRASIA      JOINT VENTURES      ANA GROUP

Regional - Japan's airline giant ANA Group has inked a partnership with local carrier AirAsia to launch AirAsia Japan, the country's newest low-cost carrier to be based out of the Narita International Airport, Tokyo.

Set to operate under the AirAsia brand, the upcoming airline's flight offerings will cover both domestic and international destinations, slated to begin in August 2012 following relevant approvals.

On the back of currently ongoing expansions of open-skies agreements and increased domestic competition from road and rail-based travel in Japan, Narita Airport has introduced the new terminal with the hopes of attracting more low-cost carriers and foreign airlines.

"We aim to bring new value to our customers, offer diverse travel experiences, and generate new demand. We believe AirAsia Japan will make air travel more accessible, providing a convenient and efficient option for a wide range of people," Shinichiro Ito, president and CEO of ANA, said.

The deal helps AirAsia expand its scope across a strong international market whilst contributing to strengthening bilateral ties between ASEAN and Japan.

"AirAsia Japan will not only boost economic growth between ASEAN and East Asia by providing better access to markets around the region, but also enhance links within travel, trade and tourism. The joint venture is an important milestone in AirAsia's growth as ANA is the first airline partner to form one with us," Tony Fernandes, group CEO, AirAsia, said.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Have you joined the campaign for free content?

Subscribe to Marketing and marketing-interactive for FREE:
Marketing-interactive.com/subscribe.

Breaking news and intelligent analysis. Always free.