IMHO it's all about the slots - HND that is.
Using AirAsia as the example they want to return to Japan after they clearly learnt there are NO LCC's in Japan due the existing mentality after their midaventure with ANA who had the management rights....and who's selected individuals just wanted to do what they'd done for the last 100 years.
There are NO NO NO LCC's (by true definition) yet in Japan, the JAL situation 4 years ago ensured local mentality would contaminate ALL carriers (get low, get slow, fuel doesn't cost anything in Japan, create drag early etc etc) so operationally (just a use an example) in the third largest carrier the JAL "influx" caused a 10-12% increae in fuel burn, on a $1 Billion turnover that equates to $30-50 million being blasted out the arse end of the engines....for absolutely no financial benefit.
This is the "JAL/ANA way"!
Interestingly if you do an endorsement with ex Air Asia sim instructors there's a very positive awareness of efficiency to the point of "...the Japanese just don't get it/understand...." comments being made which, sadly, are 100% correct.
You CAN fly an aircraft safely AND efficiently ....but a strange concept in Japan!!
EVERYONE and ANYONE would be assessing SKY for the network and especially the HND slots, if SKY closed down the slots would be re-allocated and I'm sure as hell ANA and JAL would fight to see the slots go to affiliates at the very least.
An article quoted the local head of AA Japan saying nominating NGO as a base was only for " JCAB paperwork", a final base TBA.
If a "weak" Skymark, with existing HND slots, wasn't worthy of consideration by any number of local/international operations I'd be really, really surprised.
Cheers!
