Weekly Topics/Archive
July 2012
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Yesterday, Jetstar Japan, which is funded by firms including JAL, started
passenger service
on domestic routes, following Peach Aviation, a member of ANA business group based
in Kansai International Airport as a domestic low-cost carrier (LCC).
This August, AirAsia Japan, ANA-funded LCC based in Narita Airport, is also planning to go
into service.
Though this year is the first year that domestic LCCs went into service , competition among
them has increased.
The people welcome airfare reductions due
to free competition.
The competition for low airfares are really
impressive.
On the other hand, what sort of actions did
JR as land transportation artery carry out
against LCC ?
Against Peach which started the service in March, JR West started a discount
service
on Shinkansen fare between Shinosaka and Hakata stations limiting to J-West card
members.
However, as non-members can't get the service, JR West's discount fare
can't be compared
to LCC's fare for the same route.
JR West only follows the way to attract and keep customers of their ZIPANGU
CLUB I also use.
A comparison of a single fare on some routes between JR and LCCs is as
below.
A comparison of a single fare on some routes
between JR and domestic LCCs |
|
Remark |
Route
↓ |
L C C |
JR Shinkansen
(inclusing JR) |
Jetstar Japan
|
Air Asia Japan |
Peach Aviation |
In the case of JR,
the regular fare including super express fare on train lines except Shinkansen
line
|
Narita−
New Chitose
|
4,490〜22,900 |
4,580〜18,800 |
|
28,870 |
Tokyo−Shin-Aomori−Sapporo |
| Narita−Fukuoka |
5,090〜18,990 |
5,180〜19,580 |
|
22,320 |
Tokyo−Hakata |
Kansai−
New Chitose |
4,590〜14,490 |
|
4,790〜14,790 |
39,320 |
Osaka−Shin-Aomori−Sapporo |
| Kansai−Fukuoka |
3,590〜11,490 |
|
3,590〜11,790 |
14,890 |
Osaka−Hakata |
As above stated, high fare for JR trains is particularly prominent among
them.
Why is the fare so different even on the same route ?
But actually, JR Shinkansen fare might involve costs for safety, punctuality
and carry-on baggage.
At any rate, JR may be forced to revise their train fares only for long
distance.
Some taxi firms have already introduced the discount system into long-distance
fare !
Cuts in LCC's air fares are very good for us.
However, I can't clean up a doubt.
It's about aviation safety.
To realize such air fares and make profits, cost reduction in all ways including services should
be done.
I think some factors related to aviation safety are maintenance of the plane, refueling operation
and quality of pilot Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
(MLIT) has reviewed
regulations regarding fleight and safety operations of aircraft since last
year.
And it had compiled 100 items of deregulation by the end of last month.
For instance, some of them regarding aviation safety are relaxing an age
ristriction of pilot,
approval of refueling while passengers are getting on board and getting
off the plane and so on.
I think Japanese government wants to lead to the enhancement of the international competitiveness of the Japanese aviation industry with deregulation.
But this is a problem because government regulatory agencies have a role
to play in developing
the industry in parallel.
The same applies in regulatory agencies for nuclear power generation.
What I want to say, "Is it not true that Japanese government tends
to advance deregulations advantageous to aviation industry.
More and more deregulations should be implemented after guarantee of aviation
safety.
It's because I wish that the lessons from severe accidents at nuclear power
plants are learned.
[Note] fund 〜；〜に出資する，based in 〜；〜を拠点にする
low-cost carrier；格安航空会社,Peach Aviation；ピ−チ航空、 go into service；就航する
ANA-funded ； ANAが出資する、 airfare ； 航空運賃、 impressive ； 印象的な, 目を見張る
land transportation artery ；陸上交通の大動脈
attract and keep customers；顧客を引き寄せてつなぎとめる、 ZIPANGU CLUB ；ジパングクラブ
prominent ；際立った，目立った、 punctuality；定時性、 carry-on baggage ；持ち込み手荷物
at any rate ；とにかく, いずれにせよ, be forced to 〜；〜せざるを得ない
clean up a doubt；疑念を払拭する, aviation safety；航空の安全、 refuel；給油する
review regulations；規制を見直す
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism；国土交通省、 deregulation ； 規制緩和
compile ；まとめる，編集する、 an age ristriction； 年齢制限, get on board the plane； 搭乗する
the enhancement of the international competitiveness；国際競争力の強化
government regulatory agencies ；政府の規制官庁、
have a role to play in 〜；〜で役割を担っている, in parallel；同時に，平行して
apply in 〜； 〜に適用される，〜にあてはまる、 advantageous to 〜； 〜に都合のよい
〜に有利な，implement；〜を実施する、guarantee； 担保，保証, learn lessons from 〜；〜の教訓を生かす
Japanese Diary / No.458−2012.07.04 / 日本の「LCC元年」に思う
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