Jetstar Japan brings forward launch date to Jul-2012 as Asian LCCs swell to 50 by end-2012

Jetstar Japan has brought forward its launch date to 03-Jul-2012, five months earlier than the previously announced Dec-2012, and confirmed an initial network of five major Japanese cities: Tokyo Narita, Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka and Okinawa. This appears to be a clear attempt to upstage incoming competitors, and kicks off what will be a stiff market battle, as Sapporo New Chitose and Fukuoka will also feature as launch destinations for Tokyo Narita-based AirAsia Japan and Osaka Kansai-based Peach Aviation.

Jetstar Japan will commence operations around three months after Peach Aviation's launch in Mar-2012 and a month ahead of AirAsia Japan's currently scheduled launch of Aug-2012 (although this too is subject to change, depending on the availability of aircraft). At the end of Jan-2012, Jetstar Japan CEO Miyuki Suzuki had stated the carrier was ahead of schedule on its start-up plans, without providing an exact launch date.