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Spring Airlines Japan

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Spring Airlines Japan (operating as Spring Japan) is a low-cost airline headquartered in Kozunomori, Narita, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.[1] The airline began operations in August 2014,[2] having originally planned to begin operations in autumn 2013.[3] It is a subsidiary of Japan Airlines.[4]

Spring Airlines Japan Co., Ltd.
春秋航空日本株式会社
Shunjū Kōkū Nihon Kabushiki Gaisha
IATA ICAO Call sign
IJ SJO JEY SPRING
FoundedOctober 2012; 12 years ago (2012-10)
Commenced operations1 August 2014; 10 years ago (2014-08-01)
Operating basesNarita International Airport
Fleet size9
Destinations7
Parent company
HeadquartersKozunomori, Narita, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Key peopleHiroshi Ukai (Representative Director)
Total equityJPY 6 billion
Websitejp.ch.com

History

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Spring Airlines announced in 2011 that it had plans to establish a subsidiary in Japan; it would be the first Chinese airline to do so.[5] Spring was required to find one or more local partners due to Japanese legal restrictions that would limit its investment to a minority stake.[6] When it launched, the airline was 33% owned by Spring Airlines, a Chinese low-cost carrier, with the remainder held by various Japanese investors. The airline is now majority-owned and controlled by Japan Airlines.[4]

 
Spring Airlines Japan headquarters in Narita

The airline received an air operator's certificate on 17 December 2013,[7] having filed in September 2013 with 1.5 billion yen of equity capital, of which Spring Airlines invested 33%. The remainder of the airline's capital was provided by Japanese financial institutions, IT enterprises and trading companies, among others. There were plans to raise a further 4.5 billion yen of capital prior to commencement of operations.[8] Japanese travel agency JTB announced in March 2014 that it would invest in Spring Airlines Japan and enter a partnership with the airline to provide Japan tour packages to Chinese customers.[9]

Spring Airlines Japan planned to use primarily Japanese staff, such as retired Japan Airlines (JAL) pilots. Its head of operations, Minoru Uchida, was formerly a JAL pilot.[8]

Destinations

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The airline serves the following destinations:[10]

Country City Airport Notes Refs
China Harbin Harbin Taiping International Airport [11]
Ningbo Ningbo Lishe International Airport
Shanghai Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Tianjin Tianjin Binhai International Airport
Japan Hiroshima Hiroshima Airport
Sapporo New Chitose Airport [12]
Tokyo Narita International Airport Base

Codeshare agreements

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Spring Airlines Japan has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

Fleet

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Current fleet

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Spring Airlines Japan Boeing 737-800

As of July 2024, Spring Airlines Japan operates the following aircraft.[14][15] The aircraft are fitted in a 189-seat configuration with 18 seats (the first three rows) curtained off as a premium cabin.[16]

Spring Airlines Japan fleet
Passenger fleet
Aircraft In Fleet Orders Passengers Notes
P Y Total
Boeing 737-800 6 — 18 171 189
Total 6 —
Cargo fleet
Airbus A321-200/P2F 3 Cargo Operated on behalf of Yamato Transport.
Total 9

Fleet development

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Spring Airlines Japan took delivery of its first aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, on 17 July 2013.[17] Although Spring Airlines uses Airbus A320 aircraft, the 737 was chosen for its Japanese subsidiary due to the Boeing's greater popularity among Japanese airlines and the relative ease of finding 737-qualified pilots.[8]

In November 2022, Japan Airlines announced it had ordered 3 Airbus A321P2F freighters starting in spring 2024. The aircraft are to be operated by Spring Airlines Japan in partnership with the Japanese courier Yamato Transport. The start of these services was prompted by the Japanese government restricting truck driver's yearly overtime to 960hrs, going into effect in spring 2024. The first aircraft, JA81YA, was delivered on November 6, 2023, in Yamato Transport's livery. All 3 freighters are to wear the Yamato livery.

References

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  1. ^ "会社概要." Spring Airlines Japan. Retrieved on 29 May 2014. "〒286-0048　千葉県成田市公津の杜4丁目11番2号"
  2. ^ "国内線LCC競争激化！ 「春秋航空日本」の武器は"飲み放題"!?". Nikkei Trendy Net. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Spring Airlines Japan approved, delays launch to 2014: report". CAPA. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  4. ^ a b "JAL fully adopts Spring, to invest in LCC routes, fleets".
  5. ^ Wang, Ying (30 August 2011). "Spring Airlines looks to Japan for expansion". China Daily. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  6. ^ Sanders, Fay (30 September 2011). "Spring Airlines on hunt for JV partner and first five narrowbodies". Ascend. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  7. ^ "春秋航空日本、事業認可を取得 14年５月から国内３路線就航". 日本経済新聞. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  8. ^ a b c Yoshikawa, Tadayuki (5 September 2013). "春秋航空日本、成田－高松など国内3路線就航へ 14年5月末". Aviation Wire. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  9. ^ Yoshikawa, Tadayuki (25 March 2014). "JTB、春秋航空日本に出資 4月から社員派遣". Aviation Wire. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  10. ^ "路線図". Spring Airlines Japan. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Spring Airlines Japan adds Tokyo – Harbin route in Jan 2017". routesonline. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  12. ^ "Spring Airlines Japan Plans Hokkaido Service from Aug 2016". routesonline. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  13. ^ "Spring Japan Begins JAL Codeshare and Expands China Service From August 2024".
  14. ^ "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World. October 2019: 18.
  15. ^ "Spring Airlines Japan Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  16. ^ Yoshikawa, Tadayuki (26 December 2013). "春秋航空日本、機体と制服をお披露目". Aviation Wire. Retrieved 2 January 2014. 全189席のうち、前方3列の18席は上級クラスとする予定で、普通席との間はカーテンで仕切られる。
  17. ^ "Spring Airlines Japan's lone 737-800 finally touches down in Sapporo". CH Aviation. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
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