Japan's low-cost start-up carrier Peach Aviation has received approval to launch its first scheduled flights.
Starting from 1 March 2012, it will operate three daily flights on the Osaka-Sapporo route and four daily flights on the Osaka-Fukuoka route, the airline said in a statement.
The approval came from Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport shortly after the airline's application on 23 August.
Peach will launch international flights to Seoul in May 2012, said an airline spokesman.
The airline will operate a fleet of Airbus A320s.
It is 33.4% owned by Japan's All Nippon Airways. Hong Kong investment firm Innovation Network Corp of Japan (INCJ) has a 33.3% stake, while Hong Kong's First Investment Group owns the remaining 33.3% stake, the maximum foreign ownership allowed in Japan.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news