BRENDAN SOBIE / TOKYO
Aircraft size restrictions at new Nagoya Komaki airport prompt strategy reassessment
All Nippon Airways (ANA) may shelve plans to acquire 70-seat regional jets and instead build a network of partner-operated 50-seaters.
ANA had planned to order 12-15 Bombardier CRJ700s or Embraer 170s earlier this year, but delayed selection for at least three months after a government move to restrict operations at Nagoya Komaki airport from 2005 to aircraft with 60 or fewer seats (Flight International, 1-7 July). The restriction will take effect after the new Central Japan International airport opens at Nagoya.
Industry sources say ANA is looking at new fleet alternatives given the future restrictions at Komaki, where the carrier was planning to base most or all of the new 70-seat regional jets, and other potential opportunities in the domestic Japanese market.
One option being examined is an expanded partnership with Fair Inc, which has added its fourth 50-seat CRJ and is considering taking more of the type. Additional 50-seat regional jets operated by Fair Inc or another carrier would allow ANA to get round the Komaki restrictions and compete better with rival Japan Airlines, which has a network of six CRJs operated by its J-Air subsidiary.
J-Air is considering moving its base from Hiroshima Nishi airport to Komaki. ANA and JAL believe there will still be demand for domestic services from Komaki after the opening of the new airport, which is further from downtown Nagoya.
New airports also set to open in 2005 - in Kobe outside Osaka and Kita Kyushu outside Fukuoka - may further increase demand for 50-seat regional jets in Japan, although JAL wants to see how the airports change market conditions before ordering more 50-seaters.
ANA has looked at operating its own 50-seaters, but is expected to rely instead on partners because they have lower labour costs.
ANA's regional arm Air Nippon has received the first of four 74-seat Bombardier Dash 8 Q400s it has on order and ANA has examined ordering more Q400s as part of its regional jet evaluation. Industry sources say ANA may decide to opt for a combination of extra mainline-operated Q400s and independently operated 50-seat jets.
Source: Flight International
