The airline ceased operations in Japan today due to the lack of demand for business and leisure travel related to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. Only flights operated by Air Asia Japan are impacted as other Group airlines continue to operate to and from Japan.
On Monday (October 5, 2020), AirAsia announced that Group subsidiary AirAsia Japan Co., Ltd. has ceased operations effective immediately due to the lack of demand for business and leisure travel related to COVID-19. All AirAsia Japan flights have been canceled and impacted guests will be contacted by e-mail with further information within seven days. The cessation of service only includes domestic and international flights operated by AirAsia Japan, as other Group airlines will continue to operate to/from Japan. In Monday’s announcement, AirAsia Japan’s Representative director and COO, Jun Aida, said in part,
“Despite our unrelenting efforts to sustain operations through successive and wide-ranging cost reduction initiatives, we have concluded that it would be an extremely challenging feat for us to continue operating without any visibility and certainty of a post-pandemic recovery path. I would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to our loyal guests and other stakeholders who have supported us all along. This painful decision to cease operations was decided neither in haste nor taken lightly. It was agreed upon after conducting a thorough business review. Further steps to this decision will be made in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations including the Japan Civil Aeronautics Act...”
AirAsia international flights to Japan from Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines will resume as soon as travel restrictions are lifted. AirAsia Japan was founded in 2014 and operated domestic and international flights from its base at Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) in Nagoya, Japan.
Source: AirAsia