AirAsia to launch budget carrier with ANA?

Posted by - Neelam Mathews

July 15, 2011

Asia's largest budget carrier, AirAsia might sign a joint venture with Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) - to set up a low cost airline likely to be called AirAsia Japan, according to a Malaysian paper.

ANA is the eighth largest airline in the world by revenues and the largest in Japan by passenger numbers. 

The carrier will serve the domestic market and eventually regional markets, says the report.

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AirAsia has joint ventures in Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam and might set up a similar one in Japan.

AirAsia Japan probably will operate from either Tokyo or  Fukukoa.

AirAsia's joint venture in the Philippines is set to take off in October this year from Clark International airport.

ANA's rival is Japan Airlines (JAL) said to be in talks with Qantas to set up its own low cost airline.