AirAsia Japan Got The End, ANA and AirAsia officially divorced
All Nippon Airways (ANA) Holding Inc. will buy the shares owned by AirAsia Berhad on a joint airline AirAsia Japan, worth 2.4 billion yen. With this purchase, the two airlines officially dissolve the partnership on AirAsia Japan.
AirAsia Japan based in Narita Airport, Tokyo, has failed to attract the attention of aviation service users in Japan since its launch in August 2011. ANA, which has 67% stake in AirAsia Japan, blamed poor performance due to marketing ineffective and booking via AirAsia's website is not user friendly for prospective customers.
On the other side from AirAsia, argues that the failure of AirAsia Japan to make profits because of poor cost management by the company, so the cost is quite high for a low-cost airlines (LCC).
"I remain optimistic on the Japanese market and believe there is tremendous opportunity for low-cost carrier to be successful on there," said CEO AirAsia Group, Tony Fernandes on his statement.
"We not give up on my dream air travel transform on Japan become true and we hope to go back there some day," he added.
AirAsia Japan reported a loss since it was first launched with serve five route domestic and two for international all destinations in South Korea. Losses on AirAsia Japan's cut approximately 3.5 billion yen operating profit of ANA in the financial year 2012.
"We reckon it would be better to operate the airline as a unit that we have fully," said Senior Vice President of ANA, Shinzo Shimizu, told on news conference in Tokyo.
Besides AirAsia Japan, ANA also has a low-cost airline based at Kansai Airport, Osaka, brand is Peach.
Of course ANA have the competitor in Japan, Japan Airlines (JAL) also has a low-cost airline and the brand name is Jetstar Japan, yes JAL joint venture with Qantas Airways, Australia. Jetstar Japan based at Narita Airport and Kansai.
Shimizu said, ANA will decide in July, how to operate the former airline AirAsia Japan and will pick a new name for the airline. Other options, he did not dismiss the possibility of the airline will be merged with Peach. AirAsia Japan will still use distinctive livery on AirAsia's plane until November.
AirAsia said, with the cooperation of the outbreak AirAsia Japan should return all leased aircraft from AirAsia on Nov. 1, 2013.
AirAsia Japan currently operates four aircrafts, all type is Airbus A320 and one more aircraft will join the fleet of the company in the near future.
Some aircraft will be returned to AirAsia in September, while the remainder will be returned at the end of October, an ANA spokesman told Reuters.
ANA spokesman also said the plane began to lose some more will cause flight cancellations. But, ANA will offer flights using aircraft itself if possible.
ANA will decide in July on the aircraft to be used on a former airline joint venture. ANA has an option to lease an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737, buy secondhand aircraft, or reconfigure old A320 aircraft held as the quickest solution.