Japanese star-up airline JCAS Airways, which initially plans to connect Osaka Kansai with airports in the Hokuriku region, signed a letter of intent (LOI) for the lease of one ATR 72-600 with Avation PLC, announced the Singaporean lessor on July 25, 2024.
Should the order be finalized as outlined in the LOI at the Farnborough International Airshow, JCAS Airways will take delivery of the aircraft at the end of 2025.
The airline plans to first connect Kansai Airport with Toyama and Yonago airports. “Today’s achievement is a major milestone which takes us closer to the launch of our operations, with highly experienced partners by our side: leading lessor Avation and regional aircraft manufacturer ATR,” said the start-up’s CEO Seiji Shirane.
Avation plans to deliver to JCAS Airways one of the 10 ATRs it ordered from the French manufacturer in May 2023. “The placement of this first aircraft, well ahead of its delivery, is a clear positive sign from the market, showcasing its dynamism and the liquidity of the ATR as an asset,” said the company in the statement.
Shirane established JCAS Airways in late 2018 after a career in aviation involving working at JAL and on the launch of Skymark Airlines among other things. “When it comes to business trips around Asia, 14 destinations can be reached through Haneda but 64 destinations can be reached through Kansai,” said Shimane when explaining the initial route selection in 2019. While initially the company was targeting a 2021 fall launch, that timeline has been delayed.
If JCAS Airways takes delivery of the aircraft and launches operations as planned, it will be the second Japanese start-up airline to do so after the Niigata-based Toki Air, which launched operations earlier this year.
JCAS Airways is the third Japanese airline to announce a deal at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow following ANA’s order for seven refurbished Dash 8s and JAL’s orders of Boeing 787-9s and Airbus A350s and A321neos.
