Peach gets green light for 2012 launch
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Peach Aviation Limited, the Japanese low-cost carrier being created by All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Hong Kong’s First Eastern Investment Group, has been given its Air Operators’ Certificate (AOC) by Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau. The granting of the AOC marks the final major hurdle in Peach’s efforts to launch commercial flights. The airline is now officially authorised to operate as an airline and can proceed with plans to commence passenger services in March 2012.
“This is a significant milestone for Peach Aviation,” said Shinichi Inoue, Chief Executive Officer of Peach Aviation. He added that the airline was forming a ‘Safety Promotion Committee’, which will meet for the first time on 11 July 2011. “Safety… is our most important value,” Inoue said.
Peach, which will be based at Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, will launch operations with domestic flights to Fukuoka and Sapporo. Following this in May 2011 it plans to launch its first international services to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport. Initially operating a fleet of 10 Airbus A320 aircraft, being leased from GECapital Aviation Services (GECAS), Peach is aiming to carry six million passengers per year by 2015.
According to the company, the name ‘Peach’ was chosen as it “symbolises longevity, energy and happiness across Asian countries”. Shinichi Inoue had previously said that the airline would reflect ‘Cool Japan’.
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