StarFlyer

Infobox_Airline
airline=StarFlyer
スターフライヤー
logo=
logo_size=
IATA=7G| ICAO=SFJ
callsign=STARFLYER
parent=Star Flyer Inc.
founded=2002
headquarters=Kitakyushu, Japan
key_people=Takaaki Hori (President)
hubs=New Kitakyushu Airport
focus_cities=
frequent_flyer=
lounge=
alliance=
fleet_size=4
destinations=2
website= http://www.starflyer.jp

nihongo|StarFlyer Inc.|株式会社スターフライヤー|Kabushiki-gaisha Sutāfuraiyā is an airline based in Kitakyushu, Japan. It is modeled after JetBlue Airways as a "low-cost, high-quality" carrier aimed at business and leisure travelers. The airline began operations on March 16, 2006 and is one of very few in Japan to fly Airbus aircraft. In June 2007 a codeshare arrangement for the Haneda-Kitakyushu route began with All Nippon Airways which significantly boosted passenger numbers.

History

StarFlyer was founded as nihongo|"Kobe Airlines"|神戸航空|Kōbe Kōkū on December 17, 2002 with the intention of being based at the new Kobe Airport. The company changed its name to "StarFlye"r in May 2003, and moved to Kitakyushu at the end of 2003.

StarFlyer was supported by local companies to provide a regular service initially from the New Kitakyushu Airport to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda, HND) twelve times a day, including late evening and early morning flights to allow day returns for business trips and sightseeing. Once the Kitakyushu-Tokyo route is well established the airline plans to open routes to Shanghai, Beijing, and Seoul from Kitakyushu.

On August 17, 2005, StarFlyer announced a business agreement with All Nippon Airways, providing ANA support services for most StarFlyer aircraft and crews.

A booking centre opened in Kokura on January 16, 2006. Seats for the first available flights sold out in five minutes confirming the popularity of the new venture especially among business travellers. Kitakyushu City is also requiring its employees to use the airline for all business trips to and from Tokyo. Fact|date=February 2007

From June 1, 2007 it began codesharing of its ten daily return flights of Kitakyushu-Tokyo with ANA. [http://www.starflyer.jp/starflyer/press/press_20070412.pdf] The NHK Kitakyushu local news reported on July 10, 2007 that seat bookings had increased to about 70% capacity from 59% after the codesharing began.

In April 2008 the company announced that it would begin charter flights to Seoul in July. The airline said it would evaluate the flights to consider whether to start regular service between the two cities.

Major Shareholders

*Toto Corporation
*Daiichi Kotsu Sangyo
*Nippon Steel Corp.
*Yasukawa Electric Corp.
*Zenrin
*Bank of Yamaguchi

Established on December 17 2002. Starting capital: 1,822 million yen (as of May 2005), planned to increase to 3 billion yen by end 2005.

The President is Takaaki Hori. The first president was the late Osako Shinobu, 1945-2005, former president of Zenrin and a driving force behind the New Kitakyushu Airport and the persuading of Isetan to come to Kokura in place of the failed Sogo Department Store.

Fleet

As of August 2006 the StarFlyer fleet includes [Flight International, 3-9 October 2006] :

*4 Airbus A320-200

The first StarFlyer aircraft, "City of Kitakyushu", arrived from Toulouse at the Tokyo International Airport on December 15, 2005. It was also the first aircraft to land at the New Kitakyushu Airport on February 8, 2006. Fact|date=February 2007

Although the A320 usually accommodates 180 passengers in one-class layout, StarFlyer's aircraft are fitted with only 144 seats for greater passenger legroom and comfort. Each passenger has a personal LCD monitor offering in-flight television, as well as powerports for notebook computers. StarFlyer plans to offer in-flight Internet service in the future. The Star Flyer A320 fleet is leased from GECAS.

Routes

*Tokyo International Airport - New Kitakyushu Airport
*Tokyo International Airport - Kansai International Airport
*Incheon International Airport - New Kitakyushu Airport "international flight" [ [http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=001&oid=098&aid=0001971568& 네이버 뉴스 ] ]

Livery

The company livery is black and white, designed by [http://www.flower-robotics.com/ Flower Robotics] Inc. of Shibuya, Tokyo.

External links

* [http://www.starflyer.jp/english/ StarFlyer English web page] (under construction)
* [http://www.starflyer.jp/ StarFlyer web page] (Japanese)

References