Vanilla Air launches Taipei 5th freedom base, becoming first major Japanese LCC in SE Asia: VIDEO

Vanilla Air was born out of the crisis of All Nippon Airways and AirAsia dissolving their JV airline - AirAsia Japan. ANA took 100% ownership and, for strategic value and pride, swiftly re-launched the airline. It was a tall challenge, so Vanilla Air's existence has been fragile. Now that Vanilla has found a segment and formed an identity externally and internally, it is looking to assert itself. As announced at CAPA's Jun-2016 LCCs in North Asia Summit, Vanilla Air plans to be the first Japanese LCC to have a major presence in Southeast Asia. Vanilla plans to overcome the geography and narrowbody aircraft range restrictions between Japan and Southeast Asia by operating fifth freedom flights from Taipei, made possible by Japan's open skies agreements with Taiwan and most Southeast Asian markets. Its first Southeast Asian service will be a daily flight from Taipei to Ho Chi Minh, the largest Southeast Asian market from Taipei after Singapore, and strategically important for ANA.