The Qantas Group (Qantas), Japan Airlines Co., Ltd (JAL) and Mitsubishi Corporation (Mitsubishi) announced recently the launch of Jetstar Japan, a new domestic airline that will bring more low airfares to customers in Japan. The Qantas, JAL and Mitsubishi will each hold 1/3 sharein the new company (voting-rights-basis). Jetstar Japan will commence domestic operations by the end of 2012 and expects to fly from Tokyo (Narita) and Osaka (Kansai International), with other destinations under consideration including Sapporo, Fukuoka and Okinawa. Jetstar Japan also plans to ultimately offer short haul international services to key Asian cities making travel more accessible and appealing tomillions more people. The airline will launch with an initial fleet of three new Airbus A320 aircraft, configured for 180 customers in a single class, growing to 24 aircraft within its first few years. Total capitalization commitment for the new airline is up to 12 billion Yen. Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce, said the establishment of Jetstar Japan was anhistoric and important step for the Qantas Group. "Qantas and JAL have a long-standing relationship, as codeshare partners and fellow oneworld alliance members. We are also delighted to be joining with Mitsubishi Corporation, one of Japan's great global brands, to launch Jetstar Japan, building on the successful expansion of the Jetstar brand across Asia." Jetstar Japan will be officially launched in Tokyo on Aug. 16 by the President of Japan Airlines, Masaru Onishi; Executive Vice President & Group CEO, Industrial Finance, Logistics & Development Group Mitsubishi Corporation, Hideshi Takeuchi; and Jetstar Group Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Buchanan. Jetstar was the first low fares airline to enter Japan in 2007, and has already carried more than two million customers between Australia and Japan. Jetstar's low fare model enables people to fly more often and encourages many people to fly for the first time. This new airline will help to stimulate the local tourism industry and broader economy. (mar)