JAL to launch low-cost carrier

LCC's are great for short hops, just wish they would offer more seats with more leg room!

I've had mixed resulteds with LCC's in Japan. AirAsia wanted 70,000 yen to go to Phuket, while Hong Kong Express wanted around the same fare for HK! Prices not different from better quality legacy airlines.

However, Vanilla to Hong Kong was a bargain.

When I hear 'budget airline' I think Southwest and I could not imagine being stuck in one of their tin cans for 10 hours.

Really need to make air travel more efficient (without sacrificing comfort).  Currently costs a month's wages to get home and back.  Hopefully this will be a step towards that.

So much of Japan innovation these days, Japan Inc need someone else to validate there's a market after few years before jump in.

And what are there plans post-2020? So much focus on the Olympics, but they'll have to think of their business once the last Olympic attendee has returned home, after paying the departure tax of course.

The new carrier would run medium-haul international services between Tokyo and major cities in Asia, the U.S. and Europe from summer 2020, JAL said in a statement.

i wonder what is meant by "medium-haul". is that "medium" vs. "long" or "medium vs. "large"?

JAL is so substandard not sure how you would tell the difference in seat size and legroom and condition of cabin and service.

I'll believe THAT WHEN it happens...and the prices won't be any DIFFERENT I bet.

oneworldoneppl - distance. A medium-haul flight is 2-5 hours, Tokyo to Hong Kong being a good example.

JAL had JALways back in the days.

Cheaper than JAL but old planes only which means forget about entertainment and smaller seat.

Europe is way more than a medium-haul flight...

That would be an awful flight to be in economy on. Budget airlines often have less toilets too...

I wouldnt trust a Budget Airline associated with JAL, as JAL's own Service isnt up to par with others it's supposidly trying to compete with. So goodness knows what an el-cheapo version of JAL would be like.