Air Japan is planning for steady growth over the coming years, including adding another B787-8 to the fleet within the next 12 months and better capitalising on Japan’s seasonal passenger traffic flows.

Speaking exclusively to ch-aviation, AirJapan's senior vice president and board member, Kazuyuki Inomata, said the mid-market carrier had performed well since its first flights between Tokyo Narita and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi began in February 2024. The airline has since added flights to Seoul Incheon, and, more recently, Singapore Changi. “Our recent passenger load factors are more than 80%,” he said.

AirJapan is a subsidiary of ANA Holdings, and Inomata said AirJapan was established to target the Japanese inbound market. It targeted Bangkok as its launch airport because of Thailand’s rising affluence and growing middle class, a group with a high degree of interest in visiting Japan and a propensity for repeat visits.

While longer-term plans include flying further afield, AirJapan’s immediate focus is within Asia because of the large population catchment and increasing wealth. “We look at the world,” says Inomata, “but Asia has the most growth potential.”

AirJapan currently operates two B787-8s. Both are supplied by ANA. Inomata says it will add another by the end of this fiscal year, March 31, 2026. However, he declined to say specifically what AirJapan intends to do with it and whether it would increase frequencies on existing routes or add new routes. But he did say that AirJapan was thinking about starting flights from Osaka Kansai to supplement its Tokyo Narita services.

AirJapan has been relatively unaffected by global supply chain problems, and it has the benefit of relying on ANA for aircraft and engine maintenance and is covered by ANA’s service warranties. “The short answer is no. So far, [supply chain challenges] have had no impact on us,” he said.

Inbound, outbound

Inomata says AirJapan’s focus on inbound passengers works well during the peak travel season. A record 36.9 million people travelled to Japan in 2024, with the majority coming from Southeast Asia.

But fewer people travel to Japan during its summer season. Asked what lessons AirJapan had learned in its first year of operations, Inomata said it could have managed seasonal traffic flows better. Specifically, the airline could focus on Japanese outbound traffic more during the low inbound season.

But he noted that only 17% of Japanese hold a passport, which curtails the number of Japanese who can fly on AirJapan services. “It’s a problem not only for AirJapan but also for the Japanese government,” he said. “The government is promoting that people go abroad, but it takes a passport.”

"AirJapan operates routes to Asian destinations less affected by the depreciated yen. This positions the airline to cater to individuals who may feel hesitant about traveling abroad," he concluded.