ANA LCC to operate fleet of 16 within four years; to commence in 2012

All Nippon Airways' (ANA) planned LCC will operate a fleet of 16 aircraft within four years according to partner Victor Chu (Bloomberg, 17-Jan-2011). The carrier plans to launch services to Chinese cities, possibly including Beijing, Shanghai and Zhejiang, as early as 2012, according to Mr Chu, whose First Eastern Investment Group will own a third of the LCC. A formal agreement to form the venture will be signed this month. The LCC, to be based at Kansai International Airport, will also operate domestically within Japan, most likely with B737 or A320 equipment. ANA spokesman Yoshifumi Miyake added that the carrier will commence operations in the six months ended Mar-2012, targetting a fleet of up to 20 aircraft in the first five years of operation. Japanese investors will own around two-thirds of the new carrier, including a 39% stake to be held by ANA.