Skymark Airlines has become the first Japanese carrier to order A380 aircraft, placing a firm order for six of the superjumbos with Airbus.
The order is expected to cost a total of $2.8 billion, with Skymark seeking to bolster its position against Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA).
For Airbus, the deal gives the European firm a foothold in a market where US rival Boeing has long had a near-monopoly.
“Skymark Airlines signed a firm contract with Airbus SAS for purchase of Airbus A380s on Thursday,” in Toulouse, France, where Airbus is headquartered, the Japanese carrier said in a statement.
The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2014 and will be deployed on international routes.
At present Skymark offers low-cost domestic routes in Japan.
However, with flag-carrier JAL still battling back from bankruptcy the carrier believes it can challenge for a share of the international market.
The new A380 aircraft will initially be used to link Narita Airport in Tokyo to three destinations - New York, London and Frankfurt.
If the services prove successful, Skymark plans to expand its service routes and will boost its A380 fleet.
Source: BTN
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