AirAsia Japan prepares for South Korean services and evaluates under-served cities in China

As AirAsia Japan nears its first full month of service, its attention is turning to what international markets to serve. While the carrier had previously filed schedules to offer a daily return from each Seoul and Busan from 01-Oct-2012, CEO Kazuyuki Iwakata tells CAPA those services have been pushed back to the second half of Oct-2012 at the earliest following a delay in the delivery of its third A320.

In addition to Korea in the international market, Mr Iwakata expects AirAsia Japan to focus on mainland China as well as Taiwan. In addition to the two destinations offering high demand, they are Japan's second and fourth largest international markets. Open skies agreements have also recently been signed, with Taiwan in Nov-2011 and China in Aug-2012, a further testament to Japan's breathtaking liberalisation that is ushering a new era in once stagnate North Asia.