Qantas Adjusts Japan Operations With Airbus A330 for Winter 2026/27
Qantas is ramping up its Japan network for the Northern Winter 2026/27 season, placing the Airbus A330 at the heart of strategic upgrades and frequency increases.
Japan Airlines Invests in Hanjin KAL, Deepens Korean Air Partnership
Japan Airlines has quietly entered a new era of regional influence through its undisclosed stake acquisition in Hanjin KAL, the parent company of Korean Air. This marks the first time Japan’s flag carrier has invested directly in a foreign airline group, generating significant interest across Asia’s aviation sector as both carriers reshape competitive dynamics and…
Japan’s FDMA Orders First Airbus H160 Helicopter
Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency is set to transform the nation’s emergency response landscape with its first-ever order for the next-generation Airbus H160 helicopter.
Avolon Completes $420M Samurai Loan Facility
Avolon Completes $420M Samurai Loan Facility as the global aircraft leasing company secures its inaugural cross-border financing in the Japanese loan market, raising the equivalent of US$420 million through a syndicated Samurai loan facility.
ANA Appoints Juichi Hirasawa As President And CEO
ANA Appoints Juichi Hirasawa As President And CEO, marking a significant leadership transition at All Nippon Airways, Japan’s largest airline and long-standing SKYTRAX 5-Star carrier. The change will take effect on April 1, 2026, when Hirasawa succeeds Shinichi Inoue, who will move into a Senior Advisor role at ANA HOLDINGS INC.
Nakanihon Air Takes Delivery Of Japan’s First Piaggio P.180
Nakanihon Air Takes Delivery Of Japan’s First Piaggio P.180, marking a significant milestone for both the operator and Piaggio Aerospace following the aircraft’s successful type certification by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB).
Air Canada Launches Nonstop Vancouver–Sapporo Winter Service
Air Canada Launches Nonstop Vancouver–Sapporo Winter Service, marking a significant expansion of the carrier’s trans-Pacific network and establishing the first-ever direct air link between North America and Sapporo, Japan. The new seasonal route will commence in December 2026, timed to capture peak winter travel demand to Hokkaido, globally renowned for its powder snow, winter festivals, hot springs, and…
ANA And Air Incheon Codeshare On Freighter Services
All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Air Incheon have officially launched a codeshare agreement on freighter services connecting Japan and South Korea, effective September 15, 2025. The collaboration enables both carriers to sell cargo space on flights operated by either airline, creating greater flexibility and expanding options for shippers between the two markets. By combining the strengths of their…
AAR Signs Exclusive Defense Distribution Agreement With AmSafe Bridport
AAR CORP. has signed a multi-year exclusive defense distribution agreement with AmSafe Bridport, a TransDigm company, marking a significant expansion of its defense aftermarket capabilities. Under the new agreement, AAR will act as the exclusive distributor for KC-46 Pegasus and C-40 Clipper platforms, serving both direct and indirect sales channels across the global defense and military aftermarket. This includes the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, U.S. Armed…
SMBC Aviation Capital Launches GAEL II Fund With Japanese Investors
SMBC Aviation Capital, one of the world’s leading aircraft leasing companies, has announced the successful close of its second Japanese-focused investment fund, GAEL II (Global Aviation Equipment Leasing). The fund, finalized on 20 August 2025 in Dublin, raised equity capital from 14 Japanese financial investors to acquire a portfolio of eight aircraft from SMBC Aviation Capital’s portfolio.