Japanese low-cost carrier Peach Aviation began operations in March 2012. The airline currently has seven operational bases across Japan including Tokyo’s Narita Airport, Osaka’s Kansai Airport, New Chitose, Sendai, Fukuoka, Naha and Chubut — operating a total of 33 domestic and 17 international flights.

The recovery for international air travel in Japan still seems difficult, as the country exercises extra caution over the Omicron variant — even with the incoming festive season and the new year just up ahead.

On the other hand, the recovery for domestic air travel in the country seems much more favorable, and Japanese airlines are still the firm favorites for air travel. These airlines include All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines and Peach Aviation.

First A321LR Operator

Peach Aviation — in preparation for the rise in domestic recovery — has been slowly gaining traction in switching up its fleet to much more efficient and environmentally friendly newer-generation aircraft – to not just carry out its flight operations efficiently, but sustainably as well. And as part of the fleet remodeling, Peach Aviation has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321LR aircraft on Dec. 20.

Registered as JA901P, the aircraft arrived at Osaka, Japan’s Kansai International Airport on Dec. 19 after a flight from Hamburg, and is part of a lease agreement delivered from Air Lease Corporation and is the first of two confirmed for the Japanese low-cost carrier.

Beginning Jan. 18, the A321LR will be scheduled to operate its first domestic flights under MM211 on Peach’s Osaka-Okinawa, Japan route and will subsequently be used for regular flights on both Osaka to Sapporo, Japan and Osaka to Okinawa.

The new addition to Peach’s fleet also marks the low-cost carrier as the first Japanese airline to operate the A321LR. In celebration and regarding the introduction of the aircraft type, CEO Takeaki Mori, said, “In addition to the introduction of new and environmentally friendly aircraft, we will actively promote environmental initiatives with the introduction of the A321LR, making an effort to reduce the environmental impact through improving our operations.”

Renewing For The Future

The new A321LR aircraft is powered by a pair of CFM International Leap-1A engines and fitted with 218 seats in a slightly wider aircraft cabin, enhancing the in-flight comfort for Peach’s passengers.

Peach Aviation mainly decided to go with the A321LR for its more improved fuel efficiency when compared to the A320ceo and its longer range will allow for the low-cost carrier to operate to destinations approximately 7,400 km away.

In regards to renewing for the future, Mori added on by saying that: “Peach is already operating five new Airbus A320neo jets, which are as highly fuel-efficient as the A321LR. By the end of 2025, we will switch our entire fleet over to the highly efficient and environmentally friendly A321LR and A320neo models, in order to make air transportation more sustainable.”

Currently, the majority of Peach’s fleet are older generation A320s, so it would be exciting to see the airline slowly phase them out and switch towards the newer generation aircraft.

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Charlotte Seet

Fascinated by aircraft from a very young age, Charlotte’s dream was to work alongside the big birds one day. Pursuing her dream, she went on to achieve her diploma in Aviation Management and is currently working on her degree in Aviation Business in Administration with a minor in Air Traffic Management. When she’s not busy with school assignments, you can find her aircraft spotting for long hours at the airport. In Charlotte’s heart, the Queen of the Skies will always be her favorite aircraft.

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