Japan Transocean Air (JTA) is an airline based in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.[3] It operates domestic services on behalf of Japan Airlines. Its main base is Naha Airport.[4] From 1967 until 1993, the airline was known as Southwest Air Lines.
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| Founded | June 20, 1967 (as Southwest Air Lines) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | July 1967 | ||||||
| Hubs | Naha Airport | ||||||
| Focus cities | New Ishigaki Airport | ||||||
| Alliance | Oneworld (affiliate) | ||||||
| Fleet size | 14 | ||||||
| Destinations | 15 | ||||||
| Parent company | Japan Airlines (72.8%) | ||||||
| Headquarters | Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan | ||||||
| Key people | Nozomi Noguchi (President & CEO) | ||||||
| Employees | 814 (31 March 2023) [2] | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
History
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The airline was established on 20 June 1967 as Southwest Air Lines (南西航空, Nansei Kōkū), and started operations in July 1967. It changed its name in July 1993. It had 814 employees (in March 2023) and is owned by Japan Airlines (51.1%), Naha Airport Terminal (17%), Okinawa Prefecture (12.9%) and others (19.1%)[4] It flew Convair 240s until new capital from JAL allowed it to upgrade to NAMC YS-11s, and eventually Boeing 737s. JTA occasionally lends aircraft to JAL in the event of equipment failure. JTA also provides maintenance services for JAL Group Boeing 737-400 aircraft. JTA owns 74.5% of Ryukyu Air Commuter. At one time the head office of Southwest Air Lines was at 306-1 Kagamizu in Naha.[5]
Destinations
editJTA serves the following destinations:[6]
| Island | City | Airport | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyushu | Fukuoka | Fukuoka Airport | ||
| Kagoshima | Kagoshima Airport | Terminated | ||
| Honshu | Komatsu | Komatsu Airport | ||
| Nagoya | Chubu Centrair International Airport | |||
| Okayama | Okayama Airport | |||
| Osaka | Kansai International Airport | |||
| Itami Airport | Terminated | |||
| Tokyo | Haneda Airport | Terminated | ||
| Ryukyu Islands | Ishigaki | Ishigaki Airport | Airport Closed | |
| New Ishigaki Airport | Focus city | |||
| Kumejima | Kumejima Airport | |||
| Miyakojima | Miyako Airport | |||
| Naha | Naha Airport | Hub | ||
| Shimojishima | Shimojishima Airport | Terminated | [7] | |
| Yonaguni | Yonaguni Airport | Terminated | ||
| Shikoku | Kōchi | Kōchi Airport | Terminated | |
| Matsuyama | Matsuyama Airport | Terminated |
Fleet
editCurrent fleet
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As of June 2024[update], Japan Transocean Air operates the following aircraft:[8]
| Aircraft Type | In fleet | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Y | Total | ||||
| Boeing 737-800 | 14 | — | 20 | 145 | 165[9] | Shared operation with JAL |
| Total | 14 | — | ||||
Former fleet
editJapan Transocean Air has previously operated the following aircraft:
Accidents and incidents
editSince the airline's foundation, there has only been one accident which was under the former Southwest Air Lines brand.
- On 26 August 1982, Southwest Air Lines Flight 611, a Boeing 737-2Q3, registration JA8444, overran the runway at Ishigaki Airport and was destroyed. None of the 138 passengers and crew were killed but some were injured during the emergency evacuation.[10]
References
edit- ^ "JO 7340.2J Contractions - Basic with Change 1 & Change 2" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 3 June 2019. pp. 3-1-50, 3-2-42, 3-3-44. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "About JTA". Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ "Company Profile Archived 2018-01-09 at the Wayback Machine" (Japanese). Japan Transocean Air. Retrieved on May 19, 2009.
- ^ a b "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-03. p. 97.
- ^ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 10 April 1976. p. 958. "Head Office: 306-1 Kagamizu, Naha, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, Japan."
- ^ "About JTA," Japan Transocean Air
- ^ a b "Shimojijima Airport Archived 2017-04-18 at the Wayback Machine," Okinawa Prefecture
- ^ a b c d "Japan Transocean Air Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. 2024-06-12. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "Boeing 737-800 (738/73H) / Aircrafts [sic] and seats". Japan Airlines. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-2Q3 JA8444 Ishigaki Airport (ISG)". Retrieved 21 July 2016.
External links
edit
Media related to Japan Transocean Air at Wikimedia Commons- Media related to South West Air Lines (Japan) at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website (in Japanese)
