Kaptin M
4th Dec 2000, 12:31
[Japan.]Hokkaido International Airline Company [Air Do], which started discounted flights between Sapporo and Tokyo in 1998, using 767's, introduced smokers' seats on its Sapporo-Tokyo sectors late last week, to try to improve its financial situation, by attracting smokers.
Air Do has allocated 70 seats [about 25% of the aircraft's capacity], on each of the 12 daily flights on that sector. The introduction of smoking seats is a controversial one, that goes against the "no smoking" trend.
Air Do has seen a dramatic decline in passengers, after Japan's three major airlines [JAL, All Nippon, and JAS] also cut their fares on the same route. The company's liabilities are expected to exceed its assetsin the current fiscal year, which ends March 31.
Air Do's future is unclear, because of reluctance in the business community to supply additional finance, which Air Do has requested.
The company employs some non-Japanese pilots, in addition to their own pilots.
Air Do has allocated 70 seats [about 25% of the aircraft's capacity], on each of the 12 daily flights on that sector. The introduction of smoking seats is a controversial one, that goes against the "no smoking" trend.
Air Do has seen a dramatic decline in passengers, after Japan's three major airlines [JAL, All Nippon, and JAS] also cut their fares on the same route. The company's liabilities are expected to exceed its assetsin the current fiscal year, which ends March 31.
Air Do's future is unclear, because of reluctance in the business community to supply additional finance, which Air Do has requested.
The company employs some non-Japanese pilots, in addition to their own pilots.