From October 31, AirAsia X plans to begin regular international flights from Haneda Airport.
Since the de-regulation of the aviation sector, the Japanese government has encouraged more low-cost carriers to enter the Japanese market by improving airport terminals and relaxing regulations on airfares.
Seven low-cost carriers currently offer flights from Japanese airports including Jeju Air, JetStar Airways, and Spring Airlines. These airlines follow the typical loscost model by charging for in-flight services and imposing more aggressive baggage fees, which help to keep airfares low..
All Nippon Airways has also announced plans to establish a new low-cost airline, in cooperation with a Hong Kong investment group and other partners. Japan Airlines is also expected to enter the fray, suggesting a major battle for the low cost share in the region.