Zipair Tokyo is to launch a thrice-weekly service between Tokyo Narita and Los Angeles International on December 25.
The low-cost subsidiary of Japan Airlines operates a fleet of three B787-8 aircraft configured with 272 seats in economy and 18 in business class, the latter of which are configured 1-2-1 and convert into a fully flat bed.
The Zipair brand was launched in 2019, and had been due to commence scheduled services in the summer of 2020, but the onset of Covid-19 led to the carrier initially launching as a cargo-only service from Tokyo to Bangkok and Seoul.
Passenger flights have since commenced to Bangkok, Seoul, Honolulu and Singapore, but LA represents the carrier’s first service to mainland United States.
Schedules for the Tokyo-LA route will be as follows:
- ZG24, departing Tokyo Narita at 1445 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving into Los Angeles International at 0740
- ZG23, departing Los Angeles International at 0940 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving into Los Angeles International at 1425 the following day
Zipair will join ANA, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines and United on the Tokyo Narita-LAX route – several carriers also serve Los Angeles International from Tokyo Haneda.
The airline said that one-way fares on the route would start from US$284, inclusive of taxes and charges.
Commenting on the news Shingo Nishida, president of Zipair Tokyo, said:
“Ever since the introduction of Zipair, one of our key goals was to establish a flight across the Pacific and I could not be prouder to stand here today to announce the launch of our Los Angeles route.
“Our mission is to define a new standard in the air travel industry by offering a unique low-cost business model on long-haul international routes.
“Zipair features a New Basic travel experience by offering personalized services during the flight, which will essentially shorten the sense of time.
We are eager to welcome travellers in the US to personally experience this truly new concept in air travel.”
