ZipanguFlyer

An avgeek and travelholic currently living in Japan’s Tohoku (northeast).

[takepon @takepon0901]

最近、カメラを腐らせてるが、こういうタイミングほど重要性を感じる。

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

I think the most practical step is to rename GK like “ZIPAIR Connect” and use ZG’s current website & reservations system, while they work on the necessary (ownership and regulatory) steps for full consolidation.

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

#JetstarAsia is closing on 2025Jul31. 49%-shareholder #Qantas cites fierce competition in the ASEAN market and rising costs, but 3K always looked like it didn't know what it wanted to be. All 13x #A320 will be be transferred to #Jetstar and #QantasLink.
https://t.co/GtVC2GtFFq

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

#Qantas is divesting all of its shares in #JetstarJapan to #DBJ, essentially handing over control to #JapanAirlines. #JAL will release the succeeding brand in 2026-Oct (use #ZIPAIRTokyo?) and GK will cease using the #Jetstar brand in 2027-Jun.
https://t.co/VexXj13S38

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

#ThaiAirAsiaX intends to add 4x weekly #Sendai from #Bangkok DMK starting 2025Dec01 deploying 347-seat #A330-300s. This marks the return of #AirAsia group to SDJ after #AirAsiaJapan’s closure in 2020 and brings the number of airports served in Japan to 8.
https://t.co/wQmMUFMJ1c

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

#JapanAirlines retired #B777-300ER #JA735J on 2025Sep09 after arriving at #Tokyo HND from #SanFrancisco SFO as flight #JL1. 10x out of the original 13x 77Ws remain, while 10x out of the 13x #A350-1000 ordered have already been delivered with another arriving during FY2025.

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

#JAL also has 2x #B787-8 arriving in FY2026 for #ZIPAIRTokyo and 10x 787-9 arriving from FY2028. Some of the latter are expected to be allocated to ZG for expansion, while others will replace JL 788s, which in turn will likely replace the remaining #B767-300ERs.

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

#JapanAirlines’ 17th #A350-900 JA17XJ (domestic) arrived at #Tokyo HND from #Toulouse TLS on 2025Aug17, bringing the 359 fleet back to 16, excluding written-off JA13XJ. JA18XJ and JA19XJ, one of which is a top-up order to replace JA13XJ, are also arriving by the end of FY2025.

[月刊エアライン編集部 @ikarosairline]

JALが受領した新たな国内線ワイドボディ機材、エアバスA350-900の新造機として本日8月17日16時28分に羽田空港に到着したJA17XJ。391席のキャビン仕様（X12）で、就航前の整備作業を経て路線投入へ！
Photo by Fukazawa Akira

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

#JAL will start taking 20x int’l-configured #A350-900s from FY2027. Half will likely replace 10x #B787-9 which will be transferred to #ZIPAIRTokyo with the other half replacing 9x C30Y176 (E03) 787-8 which will be reconfigured for domestic ops to replace domestic #B767-300ERs.

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

#JAL flies to HNL from NRT daily, HND 2x daily, NGO daily, & KIX daily while KOA from NRT remains suspended. #ANA only flies from HND & NRT. Until the early 2000s, JL also used to fly to HNL from CTS, SDJ, KIJ, HIJ, & FUK with seasonal charters from KMQ & KOJ as well through JO.

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

#HawaiianAirlines is suspending 3x weekly #Honolulu HNL - #Fukuoka FUK after 2025Nov19. Japan - Hawaii is historically Japan-heavy, but JPY depreciation, increased living costs (both in Japan and Hawaii), and declining population are preventing a comeback.
https://t.co/XSlmsXfZkc

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

This leaves #HAL with 2x daily HNL-HND and daily HNL-KIX. CTS & SDJ were cut pre-Covid and FUK & NRT (switched to SEA) were underperforming. #ZIPAIRTokyo at 3x weekly NRT-HNL shows the market hasn’t recovered and #AllNipponAirways dumping 2x daily #A380 (LF 60%) is not helping.

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

#AirAsiaX is launching 4x weekly #KualaLumpur KUL - #Istanbul IST on 2025Nov14 with #A330. Meanwhile #Nairobi will be axed after 2025Aug31. XAX is promoting 1-stop via KUL but can they compete with TK which already flies non-stop to many cities?
https://t.co/sLmNZX5Fau

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

It also opens up the possibility of a new hub. #Ibaraki’s biggest carrier #SkymarkAirlines could expand into int’l flights from here along with #Kobe UKB. In the past #AirAsia Group (including #AirAsiaJapan) also mulled a hub at #IBR provided the restrictions were abolished.

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

Int’l ops restrictions at #Ibaraki Airport have been lifted 2025Aug07. Before int’l flights were not allowed at #IBR Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 0730-1200, Mon 1330-2100, Tue/Thu 2000-2100, and Wed all day, and additionally only 1 flight could arrive within a hour.
https://t.co/owo7vtPLAJ

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

This opens up the potential of #Ibaraki as the 3rd airport serving the Greater #Tokyo region. #IBR is 90km from central Tokyo and could be reached with in a 100-minute drive. LCC-friendly IBR is also planning major expansion to accept flights from Southeast Asia and beyond.

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

#JetstarAsia’s last flight seems to have been #3K764 from #Manila MNL to #Singapore SIN operated by #A320-200 9V-JSI. All 13 aircraft will be transferred to #Jetstar and #QantasLink. Kudos to all staff for the 20 years and wishing luck to all who are leaving their jobs. #Farewell

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

5x ex-#NokScoot / #SingaporeAirlines #B777-200ERs are being sold to #MahanAir through a paper company in Madagascar. 5R-HER (ex HS-XBB) has been ferried to #Mashhad MHD in #Iran via #SiemReap SAI. HS-XBC is 5R-ISA, HS-XBD is 5R-IJA, HS-XBE is 5R-RIS, and HS-XBF is 5R-RIJ.

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

#FujiDreamAirlines will launch the new routes on 2025Oct26, which is the start of the NW2025/26 season. Let’s wait until #JAL discloses its winter timetable in August.

[ZipanguFlyer @zipanguflyer]

#FujiDreamAirlines is launching 1x daily #Fukuoka - #Hanamaki and 2x daily FUK - #Sendai. Smells like maybe #JapanAirlines transferring more regional flying to FDA. But wouldn’t swapping #JAL’s 2x daily FUK-SDJ on C15Y80 #E190 for #FDA’s Y84 #E175 or Y76 #E170 be a downgrade?