ZIPAIR Tokyo

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This article is about the present-day Japanese low-cost airline. For the defunct Canadian discount airline, see Zip (airline).

ZIPAIR Tokyo
株式会社ZIPAIR Tokyo
Kabushiki-gaisha Jippu-ea Tōkyō
ZIPAIR Tokyo's brand logo.png
IATA ICAO Callsign
ZG TZP ZIPPY
Founded31 July 2018 (2018-07-31)[1]
Commenced operations3 June 2020 (2020-06-03)
HubsTokyo–Narita
Frequent-flyer programZIPAIR Point Club
Fleet size2
Destinations4
Parent companyJapan Airlines
HeadquartersNarita, Chiba, Japan[1]
Key peopleShingo Nishida (President)[1]
Employees300[1]
Websitewww.zipair.net

ZIPAIR, officially ZIPAIR Tokyo Inc. (株式会社ZIPAIR Tokyo, Kabushiki-gaisha Jippu-ea Tōkyō), is a Japanese low-cost airline headquartered on the grounds of Tokyo Narita Airport.[2][3] Initially founded in 2018, the airline is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan Airlines, from which it leases its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.[4][5] Operations launched on 3 June 2020 as a cargo-only airline due to restrictions on passenger traffic related to the COVID-19 pandemic, before passenger operations launched on 16 October 2020.[6][7]

History[]

Japan Airlines (JAL) announced in May 2018 that it planned to launch a new international low-cost carrier (LCC) during mid-2020, which was to compete with other Asian carriers attempting to expand into the Japanese market, such as AirAsia X.[8] JAL established a wholly owned subsidiary for preparing the business, legally incorporated as T.B.L. Co., Ltd. (株式会社ティー・ビー・エル, Kabushiki-gaisha Tī Bī Eru, standing for "To Be Launched"), in July that year.[4][9][10] It was estimated that the airline would commence operation in time for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[11]

In March 2019, the brand of the new carrier was named ZIPAIR, referencing the words "Zip", which represents speed, and "ZIP Code".[2][12] Subsequently, T.B.L. was renamed to "ZIPAIR Tokyo Inc."[2] ZIPAIR's planned operations consisted of international flights from Narita International Airport to Bangkok and Seoul, launching on 14 May and 1 July 2020 respectively with Boeing 787-8 aircraft transferred from JAL.[2][3][5][13] The airline planned to launch additional destinations in Asia, while flights to the United States were planned to be added by 2021.[5][14][15][16]

In early 2020, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation disrupted ZIPAIR's plans for its launch of operations, with Thailand banning all incoming passenger flights from 4 April 2020,[17] and the Japanese government introducing strict border enforcement measures.[18] Under these circumstances, ZIPAIR announced on 9 April 2020 that its launch of service would be postponed until further notice,[19] although the airline later in the month also applied with the US Department of Transportation for the operation of a route to Honolulu to begin on 25 October 2020.[20] On 21 May 2020, it was announced that the airline had submitted an application to the Japanese authority for the launch of cargo flights between Tokyo and Bangkok to meet the needs for air cargo during the suspension of passenger flights.[6] ZIPAIR proceeded to launch services on 3 June 2020, initially as a cargo airline, with its fleet of Boeing 787-8 aircraft.[6][21][22]

Following its launch as a cargo-only airline, ZIPAIR inaugurated its passenger services on 16 October 2020.[7] The following month on 20 November 2020, the airline announced the details of its first route to the United States, with flights between Tokyo Narita and Honolulu launching on 19 December 2020.[23] On 20 July 2021, the airline announced a new service between Tokyo Narita and Singapore, with flights launching on 7 September 2021.[24]

Destinations[]

As of July 2021, ZIPAIR operates to the following destinations:[25]

Country City Airport Notes Ref
Japan Tokyo Narita International Airport Hub [3]
Singapore Singapore Changi Airport Begins 7 September 2021 [24]
South Korea Seoul Incheon International Airport [3]
Thailand Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Seasonal [3]
United States Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport [23]

Fleet[]

ZIPAIR Boeing 787-8

As of November 2020, the ZIPAIR fleet consists of the following aircraft:[26]

ZIPAIR fleet
Aircraft In
service 		Orders Passengers Notes
J Y Total
Boeing 787-8 2 — 18 272[a] 290[27] Leased from Japan Airlines[5]
Total 2 —

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ The economy class seating arrangement is changed from 8 seats abreast configured by JAL to 9 seats abreast.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Company". ZIPAIR. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Japan's First Medium to Long-Haul Low-Cost Carrier "ZIPAIR Tokyo" Now Established!" (Press release). Japan Airlines. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "『ZIPAIR』成田空港第１ターミナル北ウイングの使用を決定" ["ZIPAIR" Narita Airport Terminal 1 North Wing to be used] (Press release) (in Japanese). ZIPAIR Tokyo. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "JAL Establishes Preparatory Company for New LCC Business" (Press release). Japan Airlines. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Yoshikawa, Tadayuki (18 December 2019). "ZIPAIR、787の機内お披露目 上級席はフルフラット、全席モニターなしで軽量化" [In-flight announcement of ZIPAIR, 787 Advanced seats are full flat, all seats are lightweight without monitors]. Aviation Wire (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c "ZIPAIR Plan to Launch Cargo Flights to Bangkok" (Press release). ZIPAIR Tokyo. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Casey, David (9 October 2020). "ZIPAIR Tokyo set for inaugural passenger flights". Routesonline. Informa Markets. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Zipair: a defensive move by JAL as AirAsia X expands in Japan". Centre for Aviation. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  9. ^ "Establishment of a New International Low-Cost Carrier Business" (Press release). Japan Airlines. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  10. ^ Kohase, Yusuke (31 July 2018). "JAL、LCC準備会社「TBL」設立 募集は秋から" [Established JAL and LCC preparation company "TBL"]. Aviation Wire (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  11. ^ "JAPAN AIRLINES NEW LCC TO BE CALLED ZIPAIR TOKYO". Australia Aviation. 11 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Japan Airlines to launch ZIPAIR Tokyo low-cost long-haul carrier". The Jakarta Post. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  13. ^ Casey, David (9 July 2019). "Zipair Tokyo on track for 2020 launch". Routesonline. Informa Markets. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  14. ^ "JAL names new LCC Zipair Tokyo". FlightGlobal. DVV Media Group. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  15. ^ Yoshikawa, Tadayuki (20 November 2019). "JAL、成田国際線を20年度3-5路線拡充 ZIPAIRも活用" [JAL and Narita International flights expanded 3-5 routes in FY2020, also utilizing ZIPAIR]. Aviation Wire (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  16. ^ Yoshikawa, Tadayuki (19 December 2019). "ZIPAIR、ハワイも有力 西田社長「マーケット大きい」" [ZIPAIR, Hawaii is also influential President Nishida "Big market"]. Aviation Wire (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  17. ^ "Thailand suspends incoming flights". Bangkok Post. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Information related to New Coronavirus Infection(COVID-19) from Immigration Services Agency". Ministry of Justice. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  19. ^ "ZIPAIR Postpones Launch of Service to Bangkok" (Press release). ZIPAIR Tokyo. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  20. ^ Yoshikawa, Tadayuki (22 April 2020). "ZIPAIR、ハワイ就航へ　米運輸省に申請、冬ダイヤ開設目指す" [ZIPAIR applies with the US Department of Transportation, aiming to launch Hawaii services during winter schedule]. Aviation Wire (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  21. ^ "日航傘下ジップエア 初の就航、まず貨物便 逆風に負けず" [The first ZIPAIR service under the umbrella of Nikko]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 4 June 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  22. ^ Fukuda, Yoshifumi (7 July 2020). "Zipair Tokyo goes cargo-only for debut flight due to pandemic". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b "ZIPAIR/Hawaii". ZIPAIR (Press release). Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b Casey, David (21 July 2021). "ZIPAIR to open new international route". Routesonline. Informa Markets. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  25. ^ "ZIPAIR Basic Information". ZIPAIR. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  26. ^ "ZIPAIR Tokyo Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  27. ^ "『ZIPAIR』使用機材、ボーイング787型機の客室が完成!!" [Completed the cabin of the Boeing 787 aircraft, the equipment that uses "ZIPAIR"!!] (Press release) (in Japanese). ZIPAIR Tokyo. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.

External links[]

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