ANA LCC to launch with A320s

A&F Aviation, the new Japanese LCC recently established by All Nippon Airways (ANA) and First Eastern Investment Group (First Eastern), selected (14-Feb-2011) A320 aircraft to commence services from Kansai International Airport in 2HFY2011. A fleet of 10 A320 aircraft, leased from GECAS, will seat 180 passengers in a single-class layout. The aircraft will be powered by CFM International engines with the carrier stating it plans to operate a single type to keep costs low. A&F Aviation Co plans to serve 6.0 million passengers within five years on international and domestic routes at about half the cost of legacy airlines, according to CEO Shinichi Inoue (Bloomberg/Kyodo/Reuters/Dow Jones, 14-Feb-2011). The CEO added that the carrier will "take in Asian growth by attracting visits to Japan (by foreigners) through offering low fares". A&F will take delivery of the single-aisle aircraft over two years. Meanwhile, the carrier stated a new name for the company would be selected next month. The ANA affiliate selected the name A&F to include an initial for ANA and for Hong Kong-based investor Victor Chu's First Eastern Investment Group, which will own as much as 33.3% of the carrier. [more]