AirAsia Japan decides to cease operations amid pandemic  

AirAsia Japan (AAJ) has announced shut down of its operations on 5 October amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision impacts only the domestic and international flights that are run by AAJ in Japan with letter code DJ.

It will not affect AirAsia Group’s other airlines operated flights in and out of Japan.

International services to Japan, from Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines currently remain suspended temporarily.

It will resume once the travel restrictions are lifted and borders reopened.

AirAsia Japan representative director and COO Jun Aida said: “Despite our unrelenting efforts to sustain operations through successive and wide-ranging cost reduction initiatives, we have concluded that it would be an extremely challenging feat for us to continue operating without any visibility and certainty of a post-pandemic recovery path.

“I would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to our loyal guests and other stakeholders who have supported us all along.

“This painful decision to cease operations was decided neither in haste nor taken lightly. It was agreed upon after conducting a thorough business review.”

“Further steps to this decision will be made in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations including the Japan Civil Aeronautics Act.”

Incorporated in July 2014, AAJ operates domestic and international flights from its Chubu Centrair International Airport base.

In a separate development, AirAsia X Berhad announced a restructuring plan to facilitate fresh equity to restart the airline.