PETALING JAYA: AirAsia Japan (AAJ) has decided to cease operations effective immediately, as the strain caused by the Covid-19 pandemic proved too difficult to overcome.
The cessation only affects the domestic and international flights operated by AAJ in Japan with letter code DJ, and does not affect other flights into and out of Japan operated by other airlines within the AirAsia Group.
International services to Japan, from Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines will resume in the future after travel restrictions are lifted and borders with Japan are reopened.
In a statement, representative and COO Jun Aida said despite the company’s unrelenting efforts to sustain operations through successive and wide-ranging cost reduction initiatives, it had 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,” he said, adding that all flights have been cancelled and all affected guests will be contacted via email with further information within the next seven days.
The statement follows previous media reports which quoted AirAsia Group Bhd CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes as saying the group was evaluating “all possibilities” for its Japanese operations, including shutting it down.
The cessation only affects domestic and international flights operated by AAJ in Japan with letter code DJ, – REUTERSPIX
