The low-cost start-up airline ZIPAIR Tokyo, has revealed plans to launch cargo-only flights between Tokyo/Narita and Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi from June 3. The Japan Airlines subsidiary – which was unveiled last year – originally planned to begin passenger services from the Japanese capital to Bangkok and Seoul this summer.
The carrier now says that based on the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, its launch of passenger flights has been “temporarily postponed”.
ZIPAIR now plans to use the two Boeing 787 Dreamliners it sourced from its parent company to meet the demand for cargo services in the region.
Shingo Nishida, ZIPAIR president, commented: “Since the announcement of our business in May 2018, our employees have united to prepare for the launch of medium and long distance LCC services. Unfortunately, in light of the current situation, we are not able to launch passenger flights to Bangkok. As people around the world find new ways to promote their businesses, we decided to take a step forward by temporarily launching cargo-only flights between Japan and Thailand.
“As a new airline that looks to serve a diverse customer base, our employees will continue to prepare for the [much-anticipated] launch of passenger flights to destinations throughout the world.”
The four times weekly service will begin with an early evening departure from Tokyo followed by a near-midnight take-off from Bangkok before arriving back at Narita in the early morning the following day.
