Fuji Dream Airlines

Fuji Dream Airlines Co., Ltd. (FDA) (株式会社フジ ドリーム エアラインズ, Kabushiki-gaisha Fuji Dorīmu Earainzu) is a Japanese regional airline headquartered in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Japan.[1] It operates a fleet of Embraer E-Jets with two main hubs at Shizuoka Airport and Nagoya Airfield. The airline commenced operations on 23 July 2009.

Fuji Dream Airlines
フジドリームエアラインズ
Fuji Dorīmu Earainzu
IATA ICAO Callsign
JH FDA FUJI DREAM
Founded24 June 2008 (2008-06-24)
Commenced operations23 July 2009
Hubs
Focus cities
Fleet size16
Destinations17
Parent companySuzuyo & Co., Ltd.
HeadquartersShimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Japan
Key peopleShunichi Kususe (CEO)
Tokuyasu Miwa (President)
Websitefujidream.co.jp/en

History

Prior to the airline's establishment, Suzuyo & Co., Ltd. signed a purchase agreement with Embraer on 30 November 2007 for two Embraer E170s for its startup airline, with a purchase right to acquire one additional aircraft. The contract value was estimated to be approximately US$87 million, if the purchase right was exercised. At that time, the yet-to-be-established airline was Embraer's second customer in Japan.[2][3] Suzuyo later established the airline as Fuji Dream Airlines on 24 June 2008 with an initial capital of ¥450 million, with Yohei Suzuki serving as the airline's president and chief executive officer (CEO).

On 27 October 2008, Embraer received the type certification from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) to operate the Embraer E170 in Japan, with Fuji Dream Airlines receiving its first Embraer E170 on 20 February 2009 as Embraer's second Japanese customer, following J-Air.[4][5][6] On 15 June 2009, the contract between Embraer and the airline was amended, allowing for the airline to acquire the larger Embraer E175, which was delivered in January 2010.[7][8]

The airline's inaugural flight occurred on 23 July 2009, with its initial operations consisting of two daily flights to Komatsu Airport and one daily flight each to Kagoshima and Kumamoto from its home base at Shizuoka Airport.[9] On 1 April 2010, the airline commenced three daily flights between Matsumoto Airport to Fukuoka and one daily flight between Matsumoto and Sapporo Chitose, taking over the services of Japan Airlines (JAL) on the routes as part of a new codeshare agreement.[10][11][12][13]

Fuji Dream's route network expanded further as the airline received new aircraft, including services from Shizuoka and Nagoya Airfield (Nagoya Komaki) to Fukuoka in October 2010,[14] services from Nagoya Komaki to Kumamoto and from Shizuoka to Sapporo Chitose in March 2011,[15] services from Nagoya Komaki to Aomori and Hanamaki in August 2011,[16] and service between Fukuoka and Niigata in October 2011.[17] In January 2013, the airline added Kōchi Airport as a new destination with services from Nagoya Komaki beginning in March 2013.[18] In March 2014, the airline added Yamagata Airport as a new destination with services from Nagoya Komaki.[19] In March 2015, the airline added new service to Izumo and Kitakyushu from Nagoya Komaki.[20] In April 2016, the airline announced service to a second Sapporo airport, with flights to Okadama Airport from Shizuoka beginning in June 2016.[21]

In January 2018, Fuji Dream Airlines announced routes from Izumo to both Shizuoka and Sendai Airport as a new destination, beginning in March and April 2018 respectively.[22] During late 2019, the airline added new routes to Kobe Airport, with services from Izumo, Kochi, and Matsumoto.[23]

Corporate affairs

The head office of Fuji Dream Airlines is in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka Prefecture.[1] The airline is a wholly owned subsidiary of Suzuyo & Co., Ltd., whose core businesses include domestic and international logistics.[1][24]

On 22 June 2020, the airline appointed Shunichi Kususe as CEO and Tokuyasu Miwa as company president, following former president and CEO Yohei Suzuki's retirement from the airline.[25]

Destinations
Fuji Dream Airlines check-in facilities at Nagoya Airfield

As of March 2020, Fuji Dream Airlines operates or has operated scheduled flights to the following destinations in Japan:[26]

Island City Airport Notes Refs
HokkaidōSapporoNew Chitose Airport[12]
Okadama AirportSeasonal[21]
HonshūAomoriAomori Airport[16]
HanamakiHanamaki Airport[16]
IzumoIzumo Airport[20]
KobeKobe AirportFocus city[23]
KomatsuKomatsu AirportTerminated[9]
MatsumotoMatsumoto Airport[12]
NagoyaNagoya AirfieldHub[14]
NiigataNiigata Airport[17]
SendaiSendai Airport[22]
ShizuokaShizuoka AirportHub[9]
YamagataYamagata Airport[19]
KyūshūFukuokaFukuoka AirportFocus city[12]
KagoshimaKagoshima Airport[9]
KitakyushuKitakyushu Airport[20]
KumamotoKumamoto Airport[9]
ShikokuKōchiKōchi Airport[18]

Codeshare agreements

Fuji Dream Airlines has a codeshare agreement with Japan Airlines.[27]

Fleet
A Fuji Dream Airlines Embraer E170 in red livery at Nagoya Airfield

As of December 2019, Fuji Dream Airlines operates the following aircraft:[28][29][30]

Fuji Dream Airlines fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
Embraer E170 3 — 76
Embraer E175 13 1 84
Total 16 1

Fleet development

Fuji Dream Airlines launched in July 2009 with an initial fleet of two Embraer E170 aircraft, before receiving its first Embraer E175 aircraft in January 2010 and an additional E170 and E175 in October 2010, with the airline's fleet by then consisting of three E170s and two E175s. The airline's Embraer E175 fleet continued to grow in subsequent years, with orders for one E175 and one purchase right in October 2010,[31] two E175s in December 2012,[32] three E175s with three purchase rights in July 2014,[33] three E175s with three purchase rights in June 2017,[34] and two E175s in June 2019.[35]

In June 2017, the airline had expressed interest in both the Embraer E190-E2 and Mitsubishi MRJ (later the SpaceJet) in order to operate aircraft with a higher seating capacity, but in the case of the SpaceJet had decided to wait for the aircraft's eventual launch to observe its operating performance before making a decision.[36]

Livery

Fuji Dream Airlines' aircraft livery consists of a solid color across the aircraft's fuselage, engines, and wingtips, with the airline's wordmark and name written on the fuselage, usually in white. Individual aircraft are given a unique color scheme making them distinct from one another, such as in red, light blue, green, gold, silver, or violet. The vertical stabilizer (tail fin) features the airline's logo, itself resembling Mount Fuji backed by a morning sunrise, colored to mirror the aircraft's given color scheme, with the exception of the logo's uppermost yellow stripe, resembling the morning sun. One aircraft, an Embraer E175 registered JA12FJ, instead features a predominantly inverted color scheme consisting of a solid white fuselage, with the airline's wordmark, logo, engines, and wingtips largely painted in the brand's standard red color.[37]

Cabin and services

Fuji Dream Airlines' aircraft cabins consist of either 76 or 84 economy class seats, with each seat measuring approximately 18 inches (46 cm) wide with a standard seat pitch of 31 inches (79 cm).[29] On the airline's flights, complimentary refreshment services are offered.[38] The airline also has an in-flight magazine titled Dream 3776, with its name originating and derived from the airline's name and Mount Fuji's 3,776 m (12,388 ft) elevation.[39]

With the increasing length of some of the airline's flights and routes, especially those of its charter flights, the airline has also considered the addition of in-flight Wi-Fi access.[36]

References
  1. "Company Profile". Fuji Dream Airlines. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  2. "Emrbaer vende E jets ao Gropo Suzuyo no Japao" [Embraer Sells E-Jets to Japan's Suzuyo Group] (Press release) (in Portuguese). Embraer. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  3. "Other News - 11/07/2008". ATW Daily News. Penton Media. 7 November 2008. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  4. "Embraer 170 Jet is Certified in Japan" (Press release). Embraer. 5 November 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  5. "Embraer Delivers First Embraer 170 Jet to Fuji Dream" (PDF) (Press release). Embraer. 20 February 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  6. "Japanese startup Fuji Dream Airlines". ATW Daily News. Penton Media. 24 February 2009. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  7. "Embraer Sells the Third E-Jet to Japan's Fuji Dream Airlines" (PDF) (Press release). Embraer. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  8. "Fuji Dream upgrades to E-175". ATW Daily News. Penton Media. 15 June 2009. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  9. 時刻表 - 9月1日から10月31日まで [Timetable - September 1 to October 31]. Fuji Dream Airlines (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  10. 静岡＝札幌線、静岡＝福岡線、松本＝札幌線、松本＝福岡線の開設について [About the opening of Shizuoka-Sapporo, Shizuoka-Fukuoka, Matsumoto-Sapporo, and Matsumoto-Fukuoka routes] (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). Fuji Dream Airlines. 13 January 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  11. 静岡＝札幌線、静岡＝福岡線のダイヤ、運賃を届出　同時に新運賃を設定 [Announcing the timetable and fares for the Shizuoka-Sapporo and Shizuoka-Fukuoka routes.] (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). Fuji Dream Airlines. 29 January 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  12. "FDA to Serve Sapporo and Fukuoka Routes from Shinshu Matsumoto Airport - Taking Over JAL Routes in June 2010". Airport News Japan. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  13. "JAL/Fuji Dream Airlines to start codesharing". Routesonline. Informa Markets. 25 February 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  14. "Fuji Dream Airlines launching 2 new routes in W10". Routesonline. Informa Markets. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  15. "Fuji Dream Expands with E-Jets". Routesonline. Informa Markets. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  16. "Fuji Dream Airlines begins 2 scheduled Domestic Routes from Aug 2011". Routesonline. Informa Markets. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  17. "Fuji Dream Airlines W11 Operation Changes". Routesonline. Informa Markets. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  18. "Fuji Dream Airlines S13 Operation Changes". Routesonline. Informa Markets. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  19. "Fuji Dream Airlines Plans Nagoya Komaki – Yamagata Service from late-March 2014". Routesonline. Informa Markets. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  20. Kohase, Yusuke (19 January 2015). FDA、小牧発2路線　3月から北九州・出雲 [FDA, two routes from Komaki to Kitakyushu/Izumo from March]. Aviation Wire (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  21. "Fuji Dream Airlines Adds Sapporo Okadama Service from June 2016". Routesonline. Informa Markets. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  22. Liu, Jim (22 January 2018). "Fuji Dream Airlines schedules new Izumo routes in S18". Routesonline. Informa Markets. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  23. Liu, Jim (1 November 2019). "Fuji Dream Airlines W19 new routes". Routesonline. Informa Markets. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  24. "Company Profile". Suzuyo & Co., Ltd. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  25. FDA新社長に楠瀬氏　三輪氏は会長に [Mr. Kususe as new president of FDA, Mr. Miwa becomes chairman]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). 22 June 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  26. "Timetable". Fuji Dream Airlines. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  27. "Codeshare Flights with Fuji Dream Airlines". Japan Airlines. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  28. "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2019): 18.
  29. "Aircraft". Fuji Dream Airlines. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  30. "FDA - Fuji Dream Airlines Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  31. "Fuji Dream Airlines of Japan Orders an Embraer 175, Options Another" (Press release). Team Aero. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  32. "Fuji Dream Airlines encomenda mais dois jatos EMBRAER 175" [Fuji Dream Airlines orders two more EMBRAER 175 jets] (Press release) (in Portuguese). Embraer. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  33. "Fuji Dream Airlines to add up to six E175 jets to its all-Embraer fleet". PR Newswire (Press release). 15 July 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  34. "Fuji Dream Airlines Orders up to Six E175 to its all-Embraer Fleet". PR Newswire (Press release). 20 June 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  35. "Fuji Dream Airlines Orders Two E175s to Add to its All-Embraer Fleet" (Press release). Embraer. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  36. Yoshikawa, Tadayuki (21 June 2017). FDA、E175を最大6機発注　18年春から受領、14機体制に [FDA orders up to 6 E175s to receive in spring 2018, for a total fleet of 14 aircraft]. Aviation Wire (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  37. 使用機材 [Equipment used]. Fuji Dream Airlines (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  38. "Services". Fuji Dream Airlines. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  39. 機内誌を雑誌"自遊人"と共同制作 [Co-production of an in-flight magazine with "Jiyujin"] (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). Fuji Dream Airlines. 21 July 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
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