Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) has revealed the first three routes for its new Osaka Kansai International-based low-cost unit. The unnamed carrier, currently known simply as A&F Aviation, its official trading name, will launch operations in March 2012 and will initially fly to Fukuoka and Sapporo Chitose, adding its first international route to Incheon from May.
All three routes are already flown by ANA with a double daily service to Fukuoka, four flights per day to Sapporo Chitose and a daily link to Incheon. Japan Airlines also flies from Osaka Kansai International to Sapporo Chitose four times daily, while South Korean operators Asiana Airlines, Korean Air and Jeju Air all serve the Incheon market.
It is not immediately clear if ANA will continue to serve these destinations in its own right, although Emirates Airline has proven that you can operate a full-service and low-cost product on many routes, as has been the case since its sister carrier flyDubai inaugurated budget services from Dubai International.
The start-up plans to offer average fares around half the price currently offered on these routes from Osaka Kansai International. For the Fukuoka link, a market of 45,000 O&D passengers, the average fare is around the $215 mark each way, for Sapporo Chitose, a market of 468,000 travellers, it is $253 and for Incheon, a market of 454,000 passengers, it is $289. The branding of the start-up carrier is expected to be formally announced next month when its corporate identity and livery are unveiled. It will operate a fleet of ten Airbus A320s which will be acquired from specialist lessor GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).
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