Spring Japan

Chinese Spring Airlines announced in 2011 that it had plans to establish a subsidiary in Japan; it would be the first Chinese airline to do so.{{cite news|last=Wang|first=Ying|title=Spring Airlines looks to Japan for expansion|url=http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2011-08/30/content_13217409.htm|accessdate=2 September 2013|newspaper=China Daily|date=30 August 2011}} Spring Airlines was required to find one or more local partners due to Japanese legal restrictions that would limit its investment to a minority stake.{{cite news|last=Sanders|first=Fay|title=Spring Airlines on hunt for JV partner and first five narrowbodies|url=http://www.ascendworldwide.com/2011/09/spring-airlines-on-hunt-for-jv-partner-and-first-five-narrowbodies.html|access-date=2 September 2013|newspaper=Ascend|date=30 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923175137/http://www.ascendworldwide.com/2011/09/spring-airlines-on-hunt-for-jv-partner-and-first-five-narrowbodies.html|archive-date=23 September 2015}} When it launched, the airline was 33% owned by Spring Airlines, a Chinese low-cost carrier, with the remainder held by various Japanese investors. The airline is now majority-owned and controlled by Japan Airlines.

File:Keisei Kozunomori sta 001.jpg]]

The airline received an air operator's certificate on 17 December 2013,{{cite news|title=春秋航空日本、事業認可を取得 14年５月から国内３路線就航|url=http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDD170M1_X11C13A2TJ1000/|accessdate=18 December 2013|newspaper=日本経済新聞|date=17 December 2013}} having filed in September 2013 with 1.5 billion yen of equity capital, of which Spring Airlines invested 33%. The remainder of the airline's capital was provided by Japanese financial institutions, IT enterprises and trading companies, among others. There were plans to raise a further 4.5 billion yen of capital prior to commencement of operations. Japanese travel agency JTB announced in March 2014 that it would invest in Spring Airlines Japan and enter a partnership with the airline to provide Japan tour packages to Chinese customers.{{cite news|last=Yoshikawa|first=Tadayuki|title=JTB、春秋航空日本に出資 4月から社員派遣|url=http://www.aviationwire.jp/archives/34064|accessdate=27 March 2014|newspaper=Aviation Wire|date=25 March 2014}}

Spring Airlines Japan planned to use primarily Japanese staff, such as former Japan Airlines (JAL) pilots. Its head of operations, Minoru Uchida, was formerly a JAL pilot.{{cite news|last=Yoshikawa|first=Tadayuki|title=春秋航空日本、成田－高松など国内3路線就航へ 14年5月末|url=http://www.aviationwire.jp/archives/25597|accessdate=6 September 2013|newspaper=Aviation Wire|date=5 September 2013}}

In July 2021, JAL Group increased its capital and expanded its shares, and Spring Airlines' shareholding in the company was reduced from 56% to 30%; while JAL Group's investment ratio to Spring Airlines Japan increased to two-thirds, and Spring Airlines Japan became a subsidiary of JAL Group.{{Cite web |title=JAL Takes Control of Japanese Venture With China’s Spring Airlines - Caixin Global |url=https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-07-02/jal-takes-control-of-japanese-venture-with-chinas-spring-airlines-101735294.html |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=www.caixinglobal.com |language=en}}

In October, the company name was changed from "Spring Airlines Japan Co., Ltd." to "Spring Japan Co., Ltd."

The airline serves the following destinations:{{cite web|title=路線図|url=http://jp.ch.com/booking-guide-route-map|publisher=Spring Airlines Japan|accessdate=1 February 2016}}

Spring Japan has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

• Japan Airlines{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240723-ijaug24|title=Spring Japan Begins JAL Codeshare and Expands China Service From August 2024}}

File:Spring Airlines Japan, Boeing 737-800 JA02GR NRT (17111503868).jpg]]

{{As of|2024|07}}, Spring Japan operates the following aircraft.{{cite journal |title=Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One) |journal=Airliner World |volume=October 2019 |page=18}} The passenger aircraft are fitted in a 189-seat configuration with 18 seats (the first three rows) curtained off as a premium cabin.{{cite news|last=Yoshikawa|first=Tadayuki|title=春秋航空日本、機体と制服をお披露目|url=http://www.aviationwire.jp/archives/30362|accessdate=2 January 2014|newspaper=Aviation Wire|date=26 December 2013|quote=全189席のうち、前方3列の18席は上級クラスとする予定で、普通席との間はカーテンで仕切られる。}}

Spring Airlines Japan took delivery of its first aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, on 17 July 2013.{{cite news|title=Spring Airlines Japan's lone 737-800 finally touches down in Sapporo|url=http://www.ch-aviation.ch/portal/news/20598-spring-airlines-japans-lone-737-800-finally-touches-down-in-sapporo|accessdate=2 September 2013|newspaper=CH Aviation|date=25 July 2013}} Although Spring Airlines uses Airbus A320 aircraft, the 737 was chosen for its Japanese subsidiary due to Boeing's greater popularity among Japanese airlines and the relative ease of finding 737-qualified pilots.

In November 2022, Japan Airlines announced it had ordered 3 Airbus A321P2F freighters starting in spring 2024. The aircraft are to be operated by Spring Japan in partnership with the Japanese courier Yamato Transport. The start of these services was prompted by the Japanese government restricting truck driver's yearly overtime to 960hrs, going into effect in spring 2024. The first aircraft, JA81YA, was delivered on November 6, 2023, in Yamato Transport's livery. All 3 freighters are to wear the Yamato livery.

{{Reflist}}

• [http://jp.ch.com/ Website] (Japanese)

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Category:Airlines of Japan

Category:Airlines established in 2012

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Category:Japanese companies established in 2012

Category:Low-cost carriers of Japan

Category:Multinational joint-venture companies