Japan's budget airlines hit turbulence

japanese wants their plane on time, and with predictability. Budget planes are not reliable with their schedules (not enough passengers, will cancel a flight etc).

mikihouse: I often use the ANA flight from Narita to Sendai and it is always late, yet it is certainly not a budget flight.

The problem as is often the case is that COMPETITION IS NOT ALLOWED!

But competition is sorely needed throughout Japan to kill off the old stuffed up overstaffed cant control costs dinosaurs that sadly rule but shud have been extinct long ago!

So what's the beef between AirAsia and ANA? This article skirts all the real issues.

Flying out of Narita is a major headache for some of us. A lot, or sometimes even all the money I save using a budget airline, is lost when I miss the last train, pay for the Narita Express and/or have to stay overnight in a nearby hotel. Terribly inconvenient location for anyone in Kanagawa.

Earlier this month, Malaysia-based AirAsia warned it might pull the plug on its partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA), citing management tensions.

Absolutely no surprise here. JAL and ANA formed "budget" carriers only to protect their high-fare business. They have no real intention of offering really cheap fares. And since they control most of the landing slots, especially at Haneda, no real competition will emerge. Sorry for you folks there paying those ridiculous prices.

The problem as is often the case is that COMPETITION IS NOT ALLOWED!

Low cost carriers almost never use the major airports because the expenses are simply too high. And that's because there is competition. Thus I wouldn't expect that low cost carriers can afford to use Haneda, but you can surely point out how slot allocation there is unfair to the benefit of JAL and ANA?

Whenever I check fares, the LLC's are usually no cheaper than the legacies. One factor might be the highly competitive nature of Japan's ticket retailers.

Low cost carriers almost never use the major airports because the expenses are simply too high. And that's because there is competition

Incorrect, just because there are MANY flights at an airport does NOT mean there is any competing going on, just means there are lots of flights.

Airports here are like other businesses, over staffed, underworked, poorly managed, don't like to make changes, don't like to REALLY compete only pretend to, govt allows all this to happen & here we are.

I am NOT surprised AirAsia has issues with NH I would be surprised if the DIDNT!

Incorrect, just because there are MANY flights at an airport does NOT mean there is any competing going on, just means there are lots of flights.

Then let me ask again. If there is no competition, how are the slots allocated at Haneda?

Airports here are like other businesses, over staffed, underworked, poorly managed, don't like to make changes, don't like to REALLY compete only pretend to, govt allows all this to happen & here we are.

This would affect all airlines, so low cost carriers can still offer cheaper prices overall.

I am NOT surprised AirAsia has issues with NH I would be surprised if the DIDNT!

This is a completely different issue.

GMad

If there was ""competition"" consumers would benefit.................don't see much of that, hence little REAL competition going on!