Japan's low-cost carrier, ZIPAIR, is set to make its debut in the Canadian market with the launch of a new route between Tokyo Narita International Airport and Vancouver International Airport. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first time a low-cost carrier will connect Japan and Canada.
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Launch Details
ZIPAIR's inaugural flight between Tokyo Narita and Vancouver International Airport is scheduled for March 13, 2024. Initially, the airline will operate three flights per week in each direction, with plans to increase the frequency to a daily service. The Vancouver Airport Authority is currently working with ZIPAIR to finalize the schedule.
Aircraft and Services
The route will be serviced by ZIPAIR's only aircraft type, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The aircraft is configured with 18 business class seats and 272 economy class seats, accommodating a total of 290 passengers. ZIPAIR offers an unbundled low-cost product on all its flights. For instance, its lie-flat business class seats do not have entertainment screens, and the base fares for both seating types do not include checked bags or meals.
Pricing Strategy
ZIPAIR's President, Shingo Nishida, has stated that the airline aims to price tickets at half of what is being offered by full-service carriers. Typical round-trip economy fares for the Tokyo–Vancouver route are approximately 200,000 Japanese Yen ($1320), meaning that ZIPAIR would be looking to price their flights at around 100,000 Japanese Yen.
Expansion Plans
Since starting operations in June 2020, ZIPAIR has expanded its network to a total of eight destinations – four in Asia and four in the United States. With the addition of Vancouver, the airline plans to have a ten-aircraft fleet by the end of 2024. This suggests that the airline will add more new routes in the coming months.
Conclusion
The introduction of ZIPAIR at Vancouver International Airport is expected to make flights connecting Vancouver and Japan more affordable². This new, nonstop flight option from Vancouver to Japan starting in the new year is sure to provide travelers with more choices². As ZIPAIR continues to expand its network, it will be interesting to see how this impacts the aviation industry and travel trends in the region.