:Skymark Airlines

File:JA767C B767-3Q8ER Skymark Airlines HND 23MAY03 (8472312161).jpg in the airline's first livery at Haneda Airport in 2003]]

Skymark Airlines was founded in November 1996 as an independent domestic airline after deregulation of the Japanese airline industry and started operations on 19 September 1998. It was originally owned by a consortium of investors led by the travel agency H.I.S. and headed by H.I.S. president Hideo Sawada;{{cite news|last=立木|first=奈美|title=スカイマーク救済の舞台裏/35億円を個人出資した西久保愼一氏の真意|url=http://www.nikkeibp.co.jp/archives/267/267668.html|access-date=9 December 2013|trans-title=Behind the scenes of Skymark rescue / Shinichi Nishikubo who made an individual investment of 3.5 billion yen|language=JA|newspaper=Nikkei BP|date=24 September 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212202051/http://www.nikkeibp.co.jp/archives/267/267668.html|archive-date=12 December 2013}} another major early investor was the leasing company Orix. Its initial business plan called for it to be headquartered at Itami Airport in Osaka.{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Paul|title=Japan's Skymark will be launched in 1998|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/japan39s-skymark-will-be-launched-in-1998-10096/|access-date=4 June 2015|work=Flight International|date=27 November 1996}} Takashi Ide, former head of British Airways' operation in Japan, was hired as the company's CEO in 1998.{{cite news|title=迷走スカイマーク 最後の証言者「第三極は消えず」|url=http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO92371010S5A001C1000000/|access-date=5 October 2015|work=The Nikkei|date=5 October 2015}}

Skymark was able to obtain six slots at Haneda Airport in Tokyo in March 1997 and moved its headquarters to the Hamamatsucho district of Tokyo in March 1998. Its first scheduled flight from Haneda to Fukuoka was on 19 September 1998; it added routes from Itami to Fukuoka and Sapporo in 1999, but suspended these routes in 2000 in order to offer more frequencies on the Haneda-Fukuoka route.{{cite web|title=History of Corporate Activity|url=https://www.skymark.co.jp/en/company/history.html|website=Skymark Airlines|access-date=23 August 2020}}

In 2002, Skymark took delivery of a third Boeing 767 aircraft and began service on the Haneda-Kagoshima route, as well as charter service from Haneda to Seoul. In 2003, with a fourth 767 dry-leased (leased without any crew members) from All Nippon Airways, it began service to Aomori and Tokushima.

The airline incurred considerable losses in its first few years of operations. It briefly considered a recapitalization led by Commerzbank but decided not to accept such an investment due to Air Do's issues with banks interfering in management. In August 2003, Sawada invited internet entrepreneur Shinichi Nishikubo to become Skymark's largest shareholder with a personal cash investment of 3.5 billion yen (having made around 9 billion yen from the IPO of his internet company in 2000). Nishikubo took over as CEO in 2004, maintaining Ide as a "co-pilot" due to Ide's experience in the aviation industry.

On 11 December 2003, Skymark announced that it expected a profit of 470 million yen for the half-fiscal year ending on 31 October, the first profit made since the airline began operations.{{cite web | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-119524377.html | title=Skymark Airlines Expects First Profits on Half-Year Basis. | publisher=Highbeam | date=11 December 2003 | access-date=11 June 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106051657/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-119524377.html | archive-date=6 November 2012 | url-status=dead}} By using more efficient aircraft and systems developed in-house, Skymark attempted to undercut JAL and ANA on costs in order to offer lower fares.{{cite news|title=スカイマーク再生法、拡大裏目 「共同運航」間に合わず|url=http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLASDZ27I8S_Y5A120C1EA2000/|access-date=29 January 2015|agency=Nihon Keizai Shimbun|date=29 January 2015}}

Skymark had a code sharing partnership with Japan Airlines starting with a Haneda-Osaka Kansai service in 2005–06, and later on the Tokyo Haneda-Kobe route from Kobe Airport's opening in 2006.{{cite web|title=New Domestic Airports To Boost JAL's Domestic Network|url=http://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/200601/000546.html|publisher=Japan Airlines|access-date=12 December 2013|date=30 January 2006}} JAL withdrew from Kobe in 2010, while Skymark developed Kobe into a secondary base.{{cite web|title=Skymark No. 3 in Japanese domestic market; new routes focus on developing Kobe as hub|url=http://www.anna.aero/2010/01/08/skymark-third-biggest-japanese-domestic-airline-new-routes-focus-on-developing-kobe-as-hub/|publisher=anna.aero |access-date=12 December 2013|date=8 January 2010}} Skymark purchased the naming rights for the Kobe Sports Park Baseball Stadium from 2005 to 2010.

Skymark announced in April 2010 that it would commence a "Narita Shuttle" service from Narita International Airport to Asahikawa, Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Okinawa in late 2011 and early 2012.{{cite press release|url=http://www.skymark.co.jp/ja/company/press/press110412.html |title=[プレスリリース：「成田シャトル」構想を発表 成田−旭川・札幌(新千歳)・那覇・福岡まで980円より] |trans-title=Announcement of "Narita Shuttle" concept: Narita-Asahikawa, Sapporo (New Chitose), Naha, Fukuoka from 980 yen|language=JA|website=Skymark Airlines |date=12 April 2010 |access-date=11 June 2011}}

File:SKYMARK A330 GREEN SEAT demo FUK.jpgs and Boeing 737s]]

In November 2010 Skymark announced negotiations with Airbus for an order of four Airbus A380 aircraft and two options, making it the first Japanese airline to order the type.{{cite press release|url=http://www.skymark.co.jp/ja/company/investor/press101108_eng.pdf |title=Skymark and Airbus reached a basic agreement on Introduction of A380 |publisher=Skymark Airlines |date=8 November 2010 |access-date=4 August 2012}}{{cite press release|url=http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release/detail/skymark-airlines-signs-mou-for-four-a380s/news-period/1289675829/ |title=Skymark Airlines signs MoU for four A380s |publisher=Airbus S.A.S. |access-date=4 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119002442/http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release/detail/skymark-airlines-signs-mou-for-four-a380s/news-period/1289675829 |archive-date=19 November 2010 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idCNTOE6A706K20101108|title=UPDATE 2-Skymark Airlines orders Japan's first Airbus A380s|work=Reuters|date=8 November 2010 |access-date=8 November 2010}} The airline announced its intent to use the aircraft on long-haul trunk routes out of Narita Airport such as London, Frankfurt, Paris and New York, and that they would be operated in a two-class, 394-seat configuration – with 114 seats in business class and 280 in a premium economy class.{{cite web| title = Skymark May Order 15 Airbus A380s in International Expansion | last1 = Cooper | first1 = Chris | last2 = Matsuda | first2 = Kiyotaka | publisher = Bloomberg | date = 12 November 2010 | url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-12/skymark-may-order-15-a380s-in-international-expansion-update1-.html | access-date = 16 November 2010}} Nishikubo envisioned an unheard-of fully-flat product in economy class, which the Skymark team calculated would break even at a one-way fare of 100,000 yen.

As Skymark began to prepare for international service, it began to face stiff competition from a new group of low-cost carriers in Japan beginning in 2012, particularly from AirAsia Japan (later Vanilla Air), Peach Aviation, Jetstar Japan and Spring Airlines Japan at its Narita base. This led to a reduction in Skymark's frequencies on highly contested routes such as Narita-Sapporo and Narita-Fukuoka, and a refocusing of aircraft on more exclusive routes such as Narita-Ishigaki.{{cite news|title=スカイマークがＬＣＣ対抗策 高級席導入・競合路線減便|trans-title=Skymark adds measures against LCCs: introducing luxury seats and reducing flights on competitive routes|url=http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDD180PU_Y3A710C1TJ1000/|access-date=19 July 2013|newspaper=日本経済新聞|date=19 July 2013}}

Skymark attempted a more competitive domestic offering by executing leases for seven Airbus A330-300 aircraft in July 2012.{{cite press release|title=Intrepid leases seven Airbus A330-300 aircraft to Skymark Airlines|url=http://www.aviator.aero/press_releases/2261|website=Aviator|date=6 July 2012|access-date=8 July 2013}} Skymark announced that it would outfit these aircraft in a 271-seat single-class premium configuration with 38-inch seat pitch and 22-inch seat width, tentatively called "Green Seats" and comparable to the domestic "Class J" offering on Japan Airlines, to win market share among business travelers on the key domestic trunk routes from Tokyo to Fukuoka and Sapporo.{{cite news|title=スカイマークが全席プレミアムシート機 来春、羽田発着の幹線に|trans-title=Skymark to operate aircraft configured only with premium seats next spring|language=JA|url=http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXDASDD110N7_R10C13A6TJ0000/|access-date=8 July 2013|newspaper=Nihon Keizai Shimbun|date=12 June 2013}} Skymark also had plans to install "Green Seat" cabins on its 737 fleet to create a 2-class configuration{{cite news|last=Yoshikawa|first=Tadayuki|title=スカイマーク、A330は上級「グリーンシート」のみ 737は2クラスへ|trans-title=Skymark A330s to be configured in premium "green" seats|language=JA|url=http://www.aviationwire.jp/archives/21731|access-date=17 July 2013|newspaper=Aviationwire.jp|date=11 June 2013}} but cancelled the plan in early 2014 in favor of keeping a single-class 737 fleet for competition with other LCCs.{{cite news|title=スカイマーク、737型機の改装見送り 低価格路線を維持|trans-title=Skymark refrains from remodeling 737 aircraft|language=JA|url=http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNZO65240830S4A110C1TJC000/|access-date=13 January 2014|newspaper=日本経済新聞|date=12 January 2014}}

Somewhat controversially, Skymark announced that A330 flight attendants would wear miniskirt uniforms, in contrast to Skymark's usual polo shirt uniforms, for the first six months of operation of each route.{{cite news|last=Yoshikawa|first=Tadayuki|title=スカイマーク、ミニスカ新制服で若さ強調 A330導入キャンペーン|url=http://www.aviationwire.jp/archives/29821|access-date=12 December 2013|newspaper=Aviation Wire|date=12 December 2013}} The Japan Federation of Cabin Attendants publicly complained about the idea, claiming that the uniforms were unsafe to the women wearing them and would lead to harassment and objectification.{{cite news|last=Nagata|first=Kazuaki|title=Skymark's new uniform riles cabin attendants|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/03/10/national/cabin-attendants-irked-by-skymark-miniskirt-uniform/#.VMl969KUeLA|access-date=29 January 2015|work=The Japan Times|date=10 March 2014}}

Starting in 2013, Delta Air Lines was highly interested in starting a codeshare agreement with Skymark, mainly due to Delta's expansion of its own Tokyo services.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-delta-air-lines-skymark-airlines-idUSKCN0PN2L420150713|title=Delta offers to invest in Japan's bankrupt Skymark Airlines: media|last1=Dastin|first1=Jeffrey|last2=Craft|first2=Diane|publisher=Reuters|date=13 July 2015}} Following ANA's investment in Skymark however, the possibility of a codeshare agreement and further partnership with Delta was reduced.{{cite web|url=http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/delta-air-lines-seeks-a-tokyo-haneda-base-skymark-a-potential-partner-to-shake-up-alliances-121506|title=Delta Air Lines seeks a Tokyo Haneda base. Skymark a potential partner, to shake up alliances?|website=CAPA - Centre for Aviation|publisher=Informa Markets|date=2 August 2013}}

Skymark's finances were hit hard by foreign exchange rate fluctuations. In February 2011, when Skymark placed its initial A380 order, the Japanese yen was trading at historically high levels of around 82 yen to the U.S. dollar. After the introduction of the Abenomics policy in late 2012, the yen plunged in value, reaching around 102 yen to the dollar in early 2015. Many of Skymark's major investments and expenses were denominated in dollars—including the A380 orders, the A330 leases and its fuel costs—while its domestic ticket revenue was in yen, and the airline did not engage in exchange rate hedging.{{cite news|last=Yoshikawa|first=Tadayuki|title=A330導入「会社設立並みに大変だった」 スカイマーク、737一本化で原点回帰|url=http://www.aviationwire.jp/archives/54193|access-date=3 February 2015|work=Aviation Wire|date=30 January 2015}} Skymark recorded its first net loss in five years for the March 2013 – 2014 fiscal year.

In early February 2014, Skymark announced that it would downsize the Narita operation to only three destinations (Sapporo, Yonago and Okinawa). Nishikubo stated that the base lost money in every month except August and that all LCCs were under pressure there. He also expressed some reservations about the A330 fleet plan, stating that while the airline had funding in place for the first two aircraft, the third and subsequent deliveries could be impacted by the performance of Skymark's domestic operation as well as the success of its initial international service. Skymark planned to re-deploy 737s from the Narita and Haneda bases for charter services to destinations such as Guam.{{cite news|last=Yoshikawa|first=Tadayuki|title=スカイマーク、余剰737はチャーター活用 成田縮小、羽田は増便|url=http://www.aviationwire.jp/archives/31836|access-date=3 February 2014|newspaper=Aviation Wire|date=3 February 2014}}

File:AIB A380 F-WWSN!167 16mar15 LFBO.jpgs Skymark had on order in long-term storage at Toulouse Blagnac International Airport]]

Airbus completed Skymark's first A380 in April 2014 and sent the aircraft to Germany for cabin installation.{{cite news|last=Matsuda|first=Kiyotaka|title=Skymark Files for Bankruptcy After Failed Airbus A380 Deal|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-28/skymark-said-to-file-for-bankruptcy-after-airbus-a380-deal-flops|access-date=29 January 2015|work=Bloomberg Business|date=28 January 2015}}

In May, Skymark requested to reschedule a meeting with a European bank involved in financing of its A380 order. Airbus interpreted this as a signal that Skymark sought to renegotiate the contract, and sent a team of financial advisors to Skymark's head office in June. After a week of meetings, they proposed an amendment of the A380 purchase agreement, with the condition that if Skymark did not meet a certain revenue target, Nishikubo would be required to sell his shares to an outside investor chosen by Airbus. Nishikubo rejected this proposal in early July, believing there was a significant chance that Skymark would miss the target.{{cite news|title=スカイマーク破綻 隠れたままの債務|url=http://www.nikkei.com/paper/article/?n_cid=kobetsu&ng=DGKKZO83075380S5A210C1PE8000|access-date=12 February 2015|work=Nihon Keizai Shimbun|date=12 February 2015|url-access=subscription}}

In late July, Airbus announced that it had terminated the airline's A380 orders, citing concerns over the airline's ability to fund the purchase in light of its poor financial performance. Nishikubo complained the airline was not given the opportunity to revise the contract, but simply received a fax notifying it of the termination.{{cite news |title=Deal called off for delivery of Airbus A380 to Japanese airliner |url=http://www.thejapannews.net/index.php/sid/224243581/scat/c4f2dd8ca8c78044/ht/Deal-called-off-for-delivery-of-Airbus-A380-to-Japanese-airliner |access-date=29 July 2014 |publisher=The Japan News.Net |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052329/http://www.thejapannews.net/index.php/sid/224243581/scat/c4f2dd8ca8c78044/ht/Deal-called-off-for-delivery-of-Airbus-A380-to-Japanese-airliner |url-status=dead }} After further negotiations, Airbus sued Skymark for damages in a London court; it was reported that Skymark had already paid Airbus 26.5 billion yen for the aircraft and could face up to 70 billion yen in penalties.

File:Skymark JA330B RJFF.jpg at Fukuoka Airport in 2014]]

Skymark's A330s entered service on the Haneda-Fukuoka route in June 2014, but the additional seat capacity depressed Skymark's load factors on the route. Although Skymark's 737s were booked to more than 80% of capacity up to May 2014, the much larger A330s were only booked at 67% of capacity as of December 2014, while ANA or JAL achieved similar load factors with much higher-capacity aircraft. In an attempt to raise revenue, Skymark raised advance purchase fares on the route by 23% in October, bringing them closer to the level of JAL and ANA and further harming the competitiveness of the service.{{cite news|title=スカイマーク、ドル箱路線が足かせに 羽田―福岡|url=http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLZO82566940Z20C15A1LX0000/|trans-title=Skymark mismanages lucrative Haneda-Fukuoka route|access-date=3 February 2015|work=Nihon Keizai Shimbun|date=30 January 2015}}

As the Airbus dispute lingered, Skymark pursued new sources of cash. It announced in November 2014 that it was exploring a cooperative relationship with Japan Airlines under which Skymark's 36 daily round trips to and from Haneda Airport would be code shared with JAL, subject to approval by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.{{cite news|title=羽田陣取り、雲の中 「スカイマーク・日航」に国交相慎重|trans-title=Haneda takes care of Skymark Airlines diplomatc relations|language=JA|url=http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLASDZ25HMA_V21C14A1TJ1000/|newspaper=Nihon Keizai Shimbun|access-date=28 November 2014|date=26 November 2014}} Skymark initially pursued JAL due to a perception that JAL could not threaten Skymark's independence; the terms of JAL's bankruptcy restructuring prevented it from making an investment in Skymark. However, the Japanese government pressed Skymark to make the codeshare trilateral with both JAL and ANA, reflecting the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's preference for ANA. Skymark also attempted a sale and leaseback of over 1 billion yen in equipment as a cash-raising measure, negotiating with a JAL-affiliated trading company and then with an ANA-affiliated trading company. In January 2015, ANA refused to provide financial support to Skymark, and several investment funds also balked at the prospect of injecting cash into the company.{{cite news|title=Airline pays high price for independence|url=http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Airline-pays-high-price-for-independence|access-date=30 January 2015|work=Nikkei Asian Review|date=30 January 2015|url-access=subscription}}

Skymark filed for bankruptcy protection under the Corporate Rehabilitation Law (equivalent to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States or an administration in the United Kingdom) at the Tokyo District Court in January 2015 after reporting ¥71 billion (or $571.3 million) in liabilities. It announced that Nishikubo would step down as CEO and would be replaced by CFO Masakazu Arimori. Skymark announced that the A330s would be withdrawn from operation in March, and that various services to Okinawa and Kyushu would be eliminated. In an attempt to regain price competitiveness, Skymark introduced a fare of ¥8,000 on the Haneda-Fukuoka route, 1,800 cheaper than the next cheapest competitor, StarFlyer. Skymark was approached by several potential sponsors early in its bankruptcy proceedings, including ANA, AirAsia, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines.{{cite news|title=Domestic, foreign airlines eyeing tie-up with Skymark|url=http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Deals/Domestic-foreign-airlines-eyeing-tie-up-with-Skymark|access-date=24 February 2015|work=Nikkei Asian Review|date=24 February 2015}}

Skymark's restructuring plan, submitted to the court in May, called for turnaround sponsor Japanese private equity fund Integral to own 50.1% of the recapitalized company, ANA to own 16.5%, and the remainder 33.4% to be owned by an investment fund controlled by government-affiliated Development Bank of Japan and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, with Integral providing the new chairman, DBJ providing the new CEO, and code sharing between Skymark and ANA.{{cite news|title=Skymark to give court rehab plan as talks continue with creditors|url=http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Deals/Skymark-to-give-court-rehab-plan-as-talks-continue-with-creditors|access-date=29 May 2015|work=Nikkei Asian Review|agency=Nikkei|date=29 May 2015}}{{cite news|title=Skymark launches new management team as it implements turnaround plan|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/09/29/business/corporate-business/skymark-launches-new-management-team-implements-turnaround-plan/#.VnB_BUMt1lh|work=The Japan Times|date=29 September 2015|access-date=15 December 2015|archive-date=24 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224191018/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/09/29/business/corporate-business/skymark-launches-new-management-team-implements-turnaround-plan/#.VnB_BUMt1lh|url-status=dead}}

Intrepid Aviation and Airbus, who together held around two-thirds of Skymark's debt, opposed the plan, and Intrepid submitted a competing plan which called for another (unspecified) airline to sponsor Skymark's restructuring.{{cite news|last=Shiraki|first=Maki|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/skymark-airlines-restructuring-intrepid-idUSL3N0YN2K620150601|title=UPDATE 1-Skymark's top creditor says looking for sponsor other than ANA|publisher=Reuters|date=1 June 2015|access-date=3 June 2015}} Intrepid reportedly approached several foreign airlines seeking support for this alternative plan.{{cite news|title=Intrepid seeking sponsors for Skymark restructuring plan|url=http://asia.nikkei.com/Japan-Update/Intrepid-seeking-sponsors-for-Skymark-restructuring-plan|access-date=5 June 2015|work=Nikkei Asian Review|agency=Nikkei|date=5 June 2015}}

In the final creditor vote on 6 August 2015, the plan supported by ANA and Integral defeated a competing plan supported by Intrepid and Delta. The Delta plan was initially assumed to be the front runner based on Airbus's closer relationship with Delta, but Airbus ultimately switched sides and supported the ANA plan. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that ANA made a conditional offer in late July to purchase Airbus aircraft, which Delta did not match by a prescribed midnight deadline, leading Airbus to switch its stance on the restructuring.{{cite news|title=Delta outmaneuvered: ANA turned tables at last minute by making Airbus a deal|url=http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Deals/ANA-turned-tables-at-last-minute-by-making-Airbus-a-deal|access-date=6 August 2015|work=Nikkei Asian Review|date=6 August 2015}} See also {{cite news|last1=Cooper|first1=Chris|last2=Matsuda|first2=Kiyotaka|title=Skymark Lenders Approve Rehabilitation Plan Backed by ANA|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-05/skymark-lenders-vote-for-rehabilitation-plan-backed-by-ana|access-date=6 August 2015|work=Bloomberg Business|date=5 August 2015}} ANA announced an order for three A380 aircraft in late 2015, which even ANA admitted was not consistent with its overall fleet plan, leading to speculation that ANA had agreed to accept Skymark's A380 orders in exchange for Airbus's support.{{Cite news|url=https://centreforaviation.com/insights/analysis/all-nippon-airways-and-the-a380-airbus-wins-a-new-customer-in-return-for-invaluable-skymark-support-260531|title=All Nippon Airways and the A380: Airbus wins a new customer in return for invaluable Skymark support|work=CAPA - Centre for Aviation|access-date=2017-12-19|language=en}}

After exiting bankruptcy in 2016, Skymark's finances improved more quickly than expected; the company recorded 6.7 billion yen in operating profit in the March 2016 – 2017 fiscal year. Skymark focused its network expansion on its hubs in Kobe and Ibaraki, and announced plans for 150 daily flights in summer 2018, up from 138 in summer 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO24697840V11C17A2TJ2000/|script-title=ja:スカイマーク、１日最大150便へ 茨城・神戸を強化|trans-title=Skymark strengthens Ibaraki and Kobe with up to 150 daily flights|work=日本経済新聞 電子版|date=16 December 2017 |access-date=19 December 2017|language=ja-JP}}

Skymark announced in June 2018 that it intended to offer international charter flights from Narita to Saipan and Palau, its first international services, with the flights to Saipan subsequently becoming scheduled flights in late 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Skymark-to-offer-Tokyo-service-to-Saipan-and-Palau|title=Skymark to offer Tokyo service to Saipan and Palau|date=20 June 2018|website=Nikkei Asian Review|language=en-GB|access-date=26 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/skymark-makes-historic-direct-flight-from-tokyo/|title=Skymark makes historic direct flight from Tokyo|last=De La Torre|first=Freddie|date=2 December 2019|access-date=23 August 2020}}

Since 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Saipan route was cancelled and was never restored; in late 2022, the CEO of Skymark publicly stated that the airline has no plans to resume scheduled international service before 2026.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-14 |title=スカイマークの洞社長「当面は国内線に注力」 |url=https://www.nikkei.com/nkd/company/article/?ng=DGXZQOUC14C1U0U2A211C2000000&scode=9204 |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=日本経済新聞 |language=ja}}

In August 2020, the airline announced Shimojishima Airport as a new destination, with flights beginning in October 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/293214/skymark-airlines-adds-shimojishima-service-from-late-oct-2020/|title=Skymark Airlines adds Shimojishima service from late-Oct 2020|last=Liu|first=Jim|website=Routesonline|publisher=Informa Markets|date=19 August 2020|access-date=19 August 2020}}

In 2021, the first year after effect of COVID-19, Skymarks records ¥27 billion operating losses, become the company's worst losses since it exiting from bankruptcy.{{Cite web |title=第25期決算公告 |url=https://www.skymark.co.jp/ja/company/koukoku/02/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2021/06/14/2021_0628_accountsettlement_1.pdf |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Skymark Airlines |language=ja}} The airline reported ¥17 billion operating losses once again in 2022.

Skymark was re-listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2022, after eight years as a privately held company.

In January 2023, Skymark announced firm orders for four Boeing 737 MAX aircraft (two 737 MAX 8 and two 737 MAX 10), as well as options to purchase one of each, and a plan to lease six more MAX 8s. The new aircraft are scheduled to enter service between 2025 and 2027.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-18 |title=スカイマーク、737MAX-10を最大3機購入 輸送力を増強 |url=https://www.nikkei.com/nkd/company/article/?ng=DGXZQOUC1866G0Y3A110C2000000&scode=9204 |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=日本経済新聞 |language=ja}}

File:Skymark Airlines Headquarters 01.jpg]]

File:Skymark Airlines Check-in Counter.JPG]]

File:SKYMARK 737 SEAT Boeing Sky Interior.jpg seating]]

{{as of|2024|07}}, Skymark Airlines flies (or has flown) to the following destinations:{{cite web|title=Routes|url=https://www.skymark.co.jp/en/dom_network/|website=Skymark Airlines|access-date=23 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.skymark.co.jp/international/en/int_network/|title=Routes | International Flights|website=Skymark Airlines|access-date=23 August 2020}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Flights between the two airports are shown by the symbol ○

Skymark has previously sought or established codeshare agreements with airlines including All Nippon Airways,{{cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Skymark-to-code-share-with-ANA-and-JAL|title=Skymark to code-share with ANA and JAL|website=Nikkei Asian Review|publisher=Nikkei Inc.|date=15 January 2015|access-date=23 August 2020|url-access=subscription}} Delta Air Lines, and Japan Airlines, but since 2018 has insisted on operating independently of these partnerships.{{cite web|url=https://centreforaviation.com/news/skymark-airlines-not-yet-discussing-codeshare-with-ana-823379|url-access=registration|title=Skymark Airlines not yet discussing codeshare with ANA|website=CAPA - Centre for Aviation|publisher=Informa Markets|date=22 July 2018|access-date=23 August 2020}}

File:Boeing 737-86N ‘JA73NK’ Skymark Airlines (32674587367).jpg]]

{{As of|2024|07}}, Skymark Airlines operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet composed of the following aircraft:{{cite journal|title=Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)|journal=Airliner World|issue=October 2019|page=18}}

File:JA767F.JPG in 2006]]

File:B767-3Q8ER JA767A.jpg in "Yamato" promotional livery]]

Previously, Skymark operated seven Boeing 767-200 and Boeing 767-300 widebody aircraft between 1998 and 2005. Some 767 fuselages were painted in special "billboard" liveries advertising third-party companies, including Yahoo Japan,{{cite web|url=http://www.airliners.net/photo/Skymark-Airlines/Boeing-767-3Q8-ER/0115517/M |title=Photos: Boeing 767-3Q8/ER Aircraft Pictures |publisher=Airliners.net |date=20 October 2000 |access-date=11 January 2013}} Microsoft,{{cite web|url=http://www.airliners.net/photo/Skymark-Airlines/Boeing-767-3Q8-ER/0020910/M |title=Photos: Boeing 767-3Q8/ER Aircraft Pictures |publisher=Airliners.net |date=13 December 1998 |access-date=11 June 2011}} J-Phone and USEN Japan.{{cite web|url=http://www.airliners.net/photo/Skymark-Airlines/Boeing-767-3Q8-ER/0300087/M |title=Photos: Boeing 767-3Q8/ER Aircraft Pictures |publisher=Airliners.net |date=7 December 2002 |access-date=11 June 2011}} The six 767s acquired by Skymark carried registrations JA767A to JA767F; the seventh, JA8255, was leased from All Nippon Airways from 2003 to 2004.

Under Nishikubo, Skymark began acquiring new Boeing 737-800 narrowbody aircraft in 2005 and eventually retired the 767 from its fleet in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://airfleets.net/flottecie/Skymark%20Airlines-history-b767.htm |title=Skymark Airlines former fleet at |publisher=Airfleets.net |access-date=4 August 2012}}

Skymark ceased flying the A330 and most of the 737s during its bankruptcy in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/skymark-airlines-fleet-idUSL4N0V82C420150129|title=UPDATE 1-Japan's Skymark to stop flying Airbus A330 in favour of Boeing-only fleet|last1=Shiraki|first1=Maki|last2=Kelly|first2=Tim|publisher=Reuters|date=28 January 2015|access-date=23 August 2020}} All A380 orders from Skymark were rescinded as well, although All Nippon Airways proceeded to take three of the five original orders. The two remaining Skymark A380s that were placed into long-term storage following their production were taken up by Emirates.{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/04/14/business/corporate-business/emirates-boost-superjumbo-fleet-acquiring-two-orphaned-skymark-a380s/#.XGlX1smny7M |title=Emirates to acquire two orphaned Skymark superjumbos |date=14 April 2016 | publisher=The Japan Times |access-date=17 February 2019}}

Skymark planned to introduce a frequent-flyer program in January 2014 to coincide with the launch of its premium domestic service,{{cite news|last=Yoshikawa|first=Tadayuki|title=スカイマーク、マイル導入へ 14年1月から|url=http://www.aviationwire.jp/archives/22191|trans-title=Skymark to introduce miles from January 2014|language=JA|access-date=17 July 2013|newspaper=Aviationwire.jp|date=20 June 2013}} though the induction of the program was delayed in December 2013 in order to focus on preparing for international service, before being postponed indefinitely.{{cite news|last=Yoshikawa|first=Tadayuki|title=スカイマーク、マイル導入を延期|trans-title=Skymark postpones introduction of miles|language=JA|url=http://www.aviationwire.jp/archives/29657|access-date=9 December 2013|newspaper=Aviation Wire|date=8 December 2013}} While the airline does not retain its own frequent-flyer program, Skymark has provided award seats to members of the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program since June 2011, although the two airlines do not codeshare, nor can Skymark flights be used to accrue under Delta's SkyMiles program.{{cite press release|url=http://www.skymark.co.jp/ja/company/press/press110517.html |title=[プレスリリース：スカイマーク デルタ航空 特典交換プログラムへの座席提供について |trans-title=Offering seats for the Skymark Delta Redemption Program |language=JA |publisher=Skymark Airlines |access-date=11 June 2011}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category-inline|Skymark Airlines}}

• [http://www.skymark.co.jp/ Official website] {{in lang|ja}}
• [http://www.skymark.co.jp/en/index.html Official website]
• [http://www.airframes.org/fleet/sky Skymark Airlines fleet]

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