ANA Holdings INC

The three partners are initially focused on metropolitan areas like Tokyo, but eventually aim to expand eVTOL operations across Japan.

AirJapan will serve destinations more than four hours away from its base at Tokyo Narita.

The owner of Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) and low-cost operator Peach has approved plans to order 30 Boeing 737 Max 8s and 18 Airbus A320neos. ANA Holdings has also agreed to buy a $95m stake in the parent of Philippine Airlines.

Our top five stories on Routes Weekly: Delta's return to India; SIA to launch world's longest flight; Nordica's niche; ANA's space ambitions; latest passenger stats and more.

All Nippon Airways' parent company has made a further investment in a business seeking to develop commercial space flight using a new type of spacecraft.

Competition in Japan's low-cost sector looks set to intensify with Japan Airlines confirming that it could establish a budget carrier that would operate long-haul routes to Europe and North America. Routesonline explores the growth of LCCs in the country over the past five years.

Peach Aviation and Vanilla Air to explore routes across Asia to increase inbound visitors.