Japan's Skymark Airlines will almost triple its fleet to 50 aircraft in the next four years made up of Boeing 737s and Airbus A380s, its chief said on Tuesday.
The expansion is part of a bid to turn the largely domestic discount carrier into an international airline to challenge Japan's two big established operators Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways on both long- and short-haul routes, said CEO Shinichi Nishikubo, who with a 52 percent stake is also the company's biggest shareholder.
"The core of our fleet will be leased 737s," Nishikubo said at a press event in Tokyo.
With two aircraft types and 50 jets Skymark would have about a quarter of the 210 aircraft operated by nearest rival ANA, which flies six models ranging from Boeing 747s to propellor engined 56-seat Bombardier regional planes.
Skymark has no plans to issue new shares to pay for the expansion, which will also include hiring 300 cabin crew and 110 maintenance personnel, he added.