Peach Aviation of Japan launches first Chinese routes

Peach Aviation, the Japanese LCC, has launched its first routes to China. The carrier, which will celebrate its fifth anniversary in March 2017, has introduced five times weekly flight from Osaka Kansai (KIX) to Shanghai Pudong (PVG) on 1 November and from Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Shanghai on 2 November. Both routes will be operated by the airline’s A320s. Both of the new routes will be keenly contested. The 1,305-kilometre route from Osaka is already flown by China Eastern Airlines (28 weekly flights), Air China (21), All Nippon Airways (14), Japan Airlines (14), Juneyao Airlines (14), Spring Airlines (11), China Southern Airlines (seven) and Shanghai Airlines (seven). Meanwhile the 1,735-kilometre connection from Tokyo Haneda is currently served by China Eastern Airlines (14 weekly flights), All Nippon Airways (14), Japan Airlines (seven), Spring Airlines (four), Shanghai Airlines (three) and Juneyao Airlines (three). Shanghai becomes Peach’s sixth international destination, following Busan and Seoul in South Korea, Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Peach’s new routes rank it 14th among 23 airlines operating between Japan and China. Its 1% share of seat capacity is a long way off the current market leaders; China Eastern Airlines (23%), All Nippon Airways (18%), Air China (15%) and Japan Airlines (10%).