Airline establishes business association to maintain routes in Kyushu area October 25, 19:05
In order to maintain air routes connecting remote islands and local cities in Kyushu / Okinawa, ANA and Japan Airlines, as well as regional airlines in Kyushu, jointly established a business association and started efforts such as interchange of equipment. It was.
The business association was established by ANA, Japan Airlines, Kagoshima Prefecture Japan Air Commuter, Kumamoto Prefecture Amakusa Airlines, and Nagasaki Prefecture Oriental Air Bridge on the 25th. It was.
Each company will unify the manuals and aim to establish a system that allows the exchange of equipment and parts within the next fiscal year, and in the next fiscal year, major airlines will cross the affiliates and aim to sell regional airline airline tickets. To
This time, major airlines and regional airlines in Kyushu established a business association with the aim of reducing costs through equipment interchange and maintaining routes connecting remote islands and local cities where passengers are expected to decline in the future. .
An expert meeting of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism recommends the management integration of regional airlines in order to maintain the route, and the union wants to examine the effect after three years and discuss the necessity of management integration.
Comments from regional airlines
The president of three regional airlines talked about their enthusiasm for the future at the business association establishment meeting held on the 25th.
“Regional aviation is extremely important as a regional foot. I want to steadily produce results with the cooperation of the five parties and expand the areas where I can contribute,” said Japan Air Commuter in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Takashi Yoshimura, President of Amakusa Airlines in Kumamoto Prefecture, said, “It is difficult for a single regional airline to solve the problem. We want to unite the business union and lead to the development of the business.”
Akira Hino, President of Oriental Air Bridge in Nagasaki Prefecture, said, “Japan's population is declining and the remote islands are even more remarkable. With the cooperation of the five companies, while making travel products at multiple companies and taking advantage of the benefits of scale, I want to contribute to the development of remote islands. "
Current status of regional airlines in Kyushu
The regional airlines that connect remote islands and local cities are expected to experience a more severe business environment in the future as the number of passengers is expected to decline as the population declines.
On the other hand, local residents have a strong demand for maintaining the route as a regional foothold, and local governments have supported the management by making investments and subsidies.
The 40% stake in Kagoshima Japan Air Commuter that participated in the business association is owned by 12 municipalities, including Amami City and Kikai Town.
In addition to the prefecture, Amakusa Air Line in Kumamoto Prefecture is 80.15% in total for two cities such as Amakusa City and one town, while Oriental Air Bridge in Nagasaki Prefecture is 9.1% in 8 cities and towns. The local government is deeply involved in maintaining the route.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's expert conference recommends that these regional airlines improve management efficiency through mergers and management integration.
On the other hand, in the case of business integration, there are concerns that the relationship with the local government in which it invests will fade, and that it may lead to suspension of unprofitable routes and reduced flights, and it is unclear whether it can be realized. is.