The state-backed body tasked with rehabilitating Japan Airlines is looking to establish a budget carrier that would fly from two international airports to popular destinations in and outside Japan, wire reports said.
Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation (ETIC) is considering to run discount flights from Kansai International Airport in Osaka and Chubu International Airport near Nagoya to traffic-heavy routes across Asia, including local destinations like Hokkaido and Okinawa.
The budget airline might take over some flight routes that JAL Express, a firm under the JAL group, are operating from the two airports.
Citing anonymous sources, the Kyodo News Agency said the proposed budget airline would reduce cost by trimming the size of flight crews, charging for drinks and offering only Economy Class seats on domestic flights.
ETIC plans the budget airline to take flight by fiscal 2012 through March 2013.
At present, ETIC is compiling a court-led rehabilitation plan for JAL that would likely involve the slashing of 14 international routes and 12 domestic routes.
For more information about the airline, visit www.jal.co.jp
Gigi Onag
