Low-cost carriers used to operate primarily over short distances, focusing on flights that lasted up to four hours one-way. Now, however, they have expanded their service routes for medium and long distances, heightening their appeal to travelers.
Nearly 30% of flights
According to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, LCCs' share of international passenger flights has been increasing year by year. In the 2018 summer schedule, 27.1 percent of such flights were provided by LCCs.
In tandem with increased demand for airline services in Asia, LCCs have offered more and more medium-distance flights, which take five hours or longer one-way.
Most of the LCCs operating medium-distance flights from and to Japan are foreign companies, but ANA Holdings Inc. plans to merge its two LCC subsidiaries by the end of fiscal 2019 and start medium-distance flight services via the integrated LCC possibly in 2020.
Japan Airlines also aims to enter the LCC business possibly in 2020, and open new routes connecting Japan with the United States and European countries.
Asian flights fly high
Foreign LCCs are forerunners in the field. Scoot, an LCC affiliated with Singapore Airlines, opened two routes in December connecting Kansai International Airport (KIA) with Honolulu and Singapore. The KIA-Honolulu route is highly popular due to its low prices, the lowest fare for a one-way trip falling below 10,000 yen.
Although the seats on LCC planes tend to be more cramped, Scoot uses Boeing 787 planes, which have up to 375 seats, and also offers so-called Scoot Biz seats, equivalent to business class.
In the AirAsia Group based in Malaysia, the three companies of AirAsia X, AirAsia X Thailand and AirAsia X Indonesia operate medium-distance flights connecting Japan and overseas destinations. The group's flight network is customer-friendly, as it uses not only Narita Airport and KIA, but also New Chitose Airport and Haneda Airport to connect with Kuala Lumpur.
The group has opened many new routes to and from Japan, and increased the number of its flights. In April, it opened a route between New Chitose Airport and Bangkok, and one between Narita Airport and Jakarta in May.
The AirAsia Group also offers 12 business class seats called Premium Flatbed. Passengers can relax on a fully reclining seat and enjoy an in-flight meal service.
LCC for Australian tourist spots
Jetstar Airways, an LCC affiliated with Qantas Airways of Australia, has been operating direct flights from Japan to Australia's famous tourist destinations of Cairns and the Gold Coast for about 10 years.
The group has expanded routes to Asian destinations. Its other LCC, Jetstar Pacific Airlines, connects KIA with Hanoi and Da Nang in Vietnam, giving Japanese tourists opportunities to visit new places.
Multiple LCCs on 1 trip
By Miho Kibiki
Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer
I decided to go to Honolulu from Kansai International Airport for summer vacation in September, to avoid the crowds. I searched for information on Scoot's website, and examining airfares in late September, I found prices differ widely day by day. I chose flights departing from KIA on Sept. 24 and returning on Sept. 30, as the airfare was relatively low.
For the outward trip, I chose the LCC's Fly plan, which charges only airfare, because I won't have much luggage. For my homeward flight, I chose the FlyBag plan, in which a passenger can bring on as much as 20 kilograms of baggage free of charge, because I'll have additional items such as souvenirs and other purchases. I'll bring my own food on the plane, instead of paying for in-flight meals.
As a result, my round trip will cost about 45,000, yen including the airfare and airport usage fees. (This was the price as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. It could change until I pay in full.)
We can use different LCCs for outbound and homeward flights, such as using Scoot to leave Japan and AirAsia X to return. If you register for LCC email magazines, you'll receive information on discount fares and other benefits.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
