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Air Do
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Air Do is a Japanese regional airline headquartered in Sapporo, Japan. It operates scheduled service between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido in cooperation with All Nippon Airways, from its hubs at New Chitose Airport in Sapporo and Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
Key Information
History
[edit]This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2009) |

The airline was founded as Hokkaido International Airlines (北海道国際航空株式会社, Hokkaidō Kokusai Kōkū Kabushiki-gaisha) in 1996 by Teruo Hamada (浜田輝男, Hamada Teruo), an entrepreneur in Hokkaido, shortly after the Japanese government approved a domestic airline deregulation policy that would allow carriers to freely set fares on domestic routes.[1] Hamada gathered investments from 29 other individuals who were interested in establishing a low-cost airline to compete with Japan's major domestic carriers (All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and Japan Air System) on flights between Hokkaido cities and Tokyo. Additional capital was raised from Kyocera, Tokio Marine & Fire Insurance, Hokkaido Electric Power Company and other institutional investors, as well as from Hokkaido local governments seeking less expensive air service to Tokyo.
The company started flight operations on the Tokyo-Sapporo route, using the Air Do brand, in December 1998. Its first CEO was the former Japan-based manager of Virgin Atlantic. Maintenance and ground handling services were outsourced to Japan Airlines. Air Do enjoyed very high load factors during its first few months of operation, as its fares were 60% to 70% of the walk-up fares offered by established airlines.
However, other airlines quickly adopted their own discounted advance purchase fares in the wake of Air Do's initial success, driving load factors down to around 50%. In 2000, the Hokkaido prefectural government injected more capital and installed one of its senior officials as head of the company. After being significantly impacted financially in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, and being denied additional financing from the Hokkaido prefectural government, Air Do entered Japanese corporate restructuring procedures in June 2002.
Air Do received new equity capital from a tokumei kumiai investment fund arranged by the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ), in which All Nippon Airways was a key investor. This began a number of business relationships between Air Do and ANA, including ANA codesharing on Air Do operated flights and Air Do leasing additional 767 and 737 aircraft from ANA.[3] The fund was dissolved in September 2008 and DBJ, ANA and other investors became direct shareholders in Air Do.
On October 1, 2012, the company's legal name was changed from Hokkaido International Airlines Co., Ltd. to AIRDO Co., Ltd.[4]
Air Do was sanctioned by the Japanese government in December 2014 for promoting a first officer to captain despite poor performance in training. Following the business improvement order, Air Do in January 2015 moved to eliminate its lowest-yielding routes to Niigata, Toyama, Fukushima and Komatsu.[5]
In May 2021, Air Do and Solaseed Air announced their intentions to merge as a result of operating difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] In July 2021, Air Do shareholders approved a proposal to issue US$63.2 million of preferred shares to improve finances prior to the business integration.[7] The new holding company for both airlines, RegionalPlus Wings, was officially established on October 3, 2022.[6]
Corporate affairs
[edit]The airline's headquarters are located in the Oak Sapporo Building (オーク札幌ビル, Ōku Sapporo Biru) in Chūō-ku, Sapporo.[2]
The company's president is Susumu Kusano, who was appointed to the position on June 27, 2019.[8]
Destinations
[edit]Over its history, Air Do has operated scheduled services to the following destinations in Japan as of May 2021[update]:[9][10]
| Region | City | Airport | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hokkaido | Asahikawa | Asahikawa Airport | ||
| Hakodate | Hakodate Airport | |||
| Kushiro | Kushiro Airport | |||
| Sapporo | New Chitose Airport | Hub | ||
| Obihiro | Tokachi–Obihiro Airport | |||
| Ōzora | Memanbetsu Airport | |||
| Honshu | Fukushima | Fukushima Airport | Terminated | [5] |
| Hiroshima | Hiroshima Airport | Terminated | [1] | |
| Kobe | Kobe Airport | |||
| Nagoya | Chubu Centrair International Airport | |||
| Okayama | Okayama Airport | Terminated | [1] | |
| Sendai | Sendai Airport | |||
| Tokyo | Haneda Airport | Base | ||
| Toyama | Toyama Airport | Terminated | [5] | |
| Komatsu | Komatsu Airport | Terminated | [5] | |
| Niigata | Niigata Airport | Terminated | [5] | |
| Kyushu | Fukuoka | Fukuoka Airport | [5] |
Codeshare agreements
[edit]Air Do has a codeshare agreement with All Nippon Airways.[11]
Fleet
[edit]Current fleet
[edit]
As of October 2025[update], Air Do operates an all-Boeing fleet composed of the following aircraft:[12]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-700 | 8 | — | 144 | |
| Boeing 767-300ER | 4 | — | 288 | |
| Total | 12 | — | ||
Former fleet
[edit]
Air Do and its predecessor Hokkaido International Airlines has previously operated the following aircraft types:[citation needed]
| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-400 | 2 | 2005 | 2009 | |
| Boeing 737-500 | 7 | 2008 | 2016 | |
| Boeing 767-200 | 1 | 2003 | 2005 | |
| Boeing 767-300 | 4 | 2005 | 2022 |
Frequent-flyer program
[edit]Air Do operates a frequent-flyer program called My AIRDO. Points under the program are accrued based on the fare amount when purchasing tickets for travel with the airline, with registration to join the program available for Japanese residents.[13][14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "History". Air Do. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ a b "Company Information". Air Do. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ "Air Do, product of Japan's quixotic airline market, likely to remain independent pending reform". CAPA - Centre for Aviation. Informa Markets. September 17, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ Yoshikawa, Tadayuki. "エア・ドウ、社名もAIRDOに統一" [Air Do: company name changed to AIRDO]. Aviation Wire (in Japanese). Retrieved August 16, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "エア・ドゥ、4路線から撤退検討" [Air Do considers withdrawal from four routes] (in Japanese). Nihon Keizai Shimbun. January 16, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
- ^ a b "Japan's Airdo, Solaseed Air merge as travel demand hit by pandemic". Kyodo News. October 3, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ 日本放送協会 (June 29, 2021). "エア・ドゥ株主総会 財務改善に70億円の優先株発行を承認". NHKニュース. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- ^ "Air do appoints new president and CEO". CAPA - Centre for Aviation. Informa Markets. June 30, 2019.
- ^ "Timetable". Air Do. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ "Destinations". Air Do. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ "AIRDO Codeshare Information". All Nippon Airways. May 1, 2020.
- ^ "Global Airline Guide 2025 - Air Do". Airliner World. September 2025. p. 63.
- ^ "My AIRDO". Air Do. Archived from the original on October 13, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
- ^ "About My AIRDO". Air Do. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Official website (in Japanese)
Air Do
View on GrokipediaHistory
Founding and early operations (1996–2005)
Hokkaido International Airlines, later known as Air Do, was established on November 14, 1996, in Sapporo by a group of local businesspeople and investors from Hokkaido aiming to revitalize the regional economy through affordable domestic air services connecting the island to Tokyo.[6] The airline was headquartered in Chuo Ward, Sapporo, with an initial capital of ¥14 million, reflecting its grassroots origins as Japan's second low-cost carrier following Skymark Airlines.[3][7] In August 1997, the company selected "Air Do" as its operating brand name, emphasizing simplicity and its role in promoting Hokkaido as a tourism destination.[8] Operations commenced on December 20, 1998, after receiving an air transport license from Japan's Ministry of Transport in October of that year, with inaugural flights on the Tokyo Haneda–Sapporo New Chitose route using a leased Boeing 767-300ER aircraft configured for high-capacity service.[3][9] The route quickly proved popular, expanding to three daily round trips initially and reaching six by July 2000 with the addition of a second Boeing 767-300ER, marking the carrier's focus on the high-demand Tokyo–Hokkaido corridor to support regional tourism and business travel.[3][10] By December 2000, Air Do had carried its 1 millionth passenger, solidifying its position as a regional low-cost operator prioritizing connectivity within Hokkaido and to Honshu.[3] The early 2000s brought significant challenges, as the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks triggered a global downturn in air travel demand, exacerbating financial pressures on the fledgling airline amid intense competition and rising fuel costs.[11] This led to initial route adjustments and cost-cutting measures, culminating in Air Do filing for bankruptcy protection under Japan's Civil Rehabilitation Law in June 2002, with debts exceeding ¥24 billion.[3] A rehabilitation plan was approved in December 2002, involving capital reduction and a ¥2 billion infusion from investors including All Nippon Airways (ANA), which established a codeshare partnership in February 2003 and later acquired a significant equity stake to support the restructuring, allowing operations to continue and the airline to emerge from rehabilitation in 2006.[3][12] Expansion resumed modestly, with the addition of the Asahikawa–Tokyo route in July 2003 and the Hakodate–Tokyo route in March 2005, further enhancing intra-Hokkaido access while reaching the 5 millionth passenger milestone in August 2005.[3]Restructuring and growth (2006–present)
In 2006, Air Do expanded its operations by adding the Memanbetsu–Tokyo route and was officially designated as a domestic air carrier by Japanese authorities, marking a step toward stabilizing its network following earlier financial challenges exacerbated by the post-9/11 aviation downturn.[3] These moves were part of broader efforts to restructure under new leadership, including debt management initiatives to mitigate accumulated losses.[13] This collaboration with All Nippon Airways (ANA) helped Air Do navigate economic pressures and focus on core domestic services. In October 2012, the airline rebranded from Hokkaido International Airlines Co., Ltd. to AIRDO Co., Ltd., introducing an updated livery centered on its popular "BearDo" mascot to refresh its image and appeal to passengers.[3] Air Do faced a regulatory setback in December 2014 when Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) issued a business improvement order due to lapses in safety oversight, specifically related to improper procedures in a pilot promotion process.[3] To improve efficiency, Air Do rationalized its route network in March 2015 by discontinuing low-yield services to destinations including Niigata, Fukushima, Toyama, and Komatsu, allowing greater emphasis on high-demand Hokkaido–Honshu connections.[3] The COVID-19 pandemic prompted further strategic shifts, with Air Do announcing a management integration with Solaseed Air in May 2021 via a letter of intent, aimed at sharing resources amid reduced travel demand.[3] This culminated in October 2022 with the formation of the joint holding company RegionalPlus Wings Corp., under which both airlines maintained their brands while consolidating administrative functions.[14] In October 2024, RegionalPlus Wings centralized maintenance operations for Air Do and Solaseed Air, transferring responsibilities to the holding company to achieve cost efficiencies and streamline technical support across the group.[15] Recent developments in 2025 include a collaborative campaign with AirJapan launched on July 15, titled "Get a BearDo by Flying with Both Airlines," offering passengers stuffed "BearDo" mascots for bookings on combined itineraries to promote Hokkaido tourism.[16] However, operational challenges persisted, with multiple flight cancellations at New Chitose Airport in November due to aircraft shortages, affecting routes such as Tokyo–Sapporo and stranding passengers during peak travel periods.[17]Corporate affairs
Ownership and structure
Air Do operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of RegionalPlus Wings Corp., a holding company established on October 3, 2022, which also holds 100% ownership of Solaseed Air to foster synergies in regional aviation while preserving distinct operational identities.[18] The corporate structure features integrated back-office functions, including maintenance and procurement, across the group to enhance efficiency, though Air Do maintains its independent brand and Hokkaido-centric operations separate from Solaseed Air's focus on Kyushu and Okinawa.[19] Major shareholders of RegionalPlus Wings Corp. include the Development Bank of Japan as the largest stakeholder, alongside ANA Holdings and various institutional investors such as regional banks and local corporations from Hokkaido.[20] Air Do's headquarters is situated in the Oak Sapporo Building, located at 8F, 2-9 Kita 1 Nishi, Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido.[1] Governance is overseen by the board of directors of RegionalPlus Wings Corp., with Kosuke Takahashi serving as president as of 2025; the structure emphasizes sustainable growth in Hokkaido while adhering to standards set by its strategic alliance with ANA Holdings.[21]Financial performance and key metrics
Air Do's financial performance has demonstrated a robust post-COVID recovery, driven by the rebound in domestic tourism within Japan. In the fiscal year ending March 2024, the airline achieved operating revenue of ¥51.556 billion, marking a 24.2% increase from the previous year, alongside a final profit of ¥3.416 billion. This upturn continued into the fiscal year ending March 2025, with operating revenue reaching ¥53.27 billion, a 3.3% year-on-year rise, reflecting sustained demand for Hokkaido-focused routes.[22][23] Key operational metrics underscore the airline's efficiency gains. The load factor on core domestic routes averaged 75–80% during the recovery period, with recent monthly figures reaching as high as 92% in September 2025, indicating strong utilization of capacity. Operating costs were reduced through the 2024 integration of maintenance operations with Solaseed Air under their shared holding company, RegionalPlus Wings, enabling standardized processes and joint resource use to lower overheads. The employee base expanded to approximately 1,100 by 2025, up from 1,025 in 2020, encompassing pilots, cabin crew, and ground staff to handle increased flight volumes.[24][15] The COVID-19 pandemic posed severe challenges from 2020 to 2022, resulting in cumulative losses of around ¥20 billion, including a net loss of ¥12.2 billion in FY2020 when revenue plummeted 61% to ¥17.4 billion due to travel restrictions. These impacts were partially offset by Japanese government subsidies and strategic route optimizations focused on essential domestic connectivity. Looking to 2025, Air Do anticipates stable profitability, bolstered by Hokkaido's tourism surge and its role as a feeder carrier for All Nippon Airways, complemented by fuel hedging strategies to counter rising jet fuel costs averaging $86 per barrel industry-wide.[25][26]Destinations and partnerships
Destinations
Air Do operates an exclusively domestic route network centered on Hokkaido, connecting regional airports in the northern island to key cities across Japan. As of November 2025, the airline's primary hub is New Chitose Airport in Sapporo, Hokkaido, which serves as the central point for most operations, while Tokyo's Haneda Airport functions as a secondary base for high-volume connections.[2][27] The current network includes 11 destinations, all within Japan: five additional airports in Hokkaido—Asahikawa, Hakodate, Kushiro, Obihiro, and Memanbetsu (also known as Ōzora)—along with Sapporo (New Chitose) as the hub; four on Honshu—Kobe, Nagoya (Chubu Centrair International), Sendai, and Tokyo (Haneda); and one in Kyushu—Fukuoka. These routes primarily link Hokkaido's regional centers directly to Tokyo Haneda, with select extensions from Sapporo New Chitose to other Honshu and Kyushu cities, such as daily services to Sendai, Nagoya, Kobe, and Fukuoka.[28][27] Key route characteristics highlight the airline's emphasis on reliable, short-haul connectivity, with average flight durations of 1.5 to 2 hours. The flagship Sapporo–Tokyo Haneda route features high-frequency service, operating up to 12 flights daily, and sees seasonal increases during tourism peaks in summer and winter to support visitor influx to Hokkaido. Air Do does not operate any international routes.[28][29] In line with post-2015 network rationalization efforts, Air Do discontinued services to Niigata, Fukushima, and Toyama to focus on more viable routes. The overall strategy prioritizes underserved regional links within and to Hokkaido, fostering economic growth by enhancing access for local businesses, tourism, and communities—exemplified by partnerships like the one with Ozora town near Memanbetsu Airport for revitalization initiatives.[3][5]Codeshare agreements
Air Do's primary codeshare agreement is with All Nippon Airways (ANA), allowing select Air Do-operated flights to carry ANA flight numbers (NH) for seamless integration into ANA's broader domestic and international network.[30][3] This partnership commenced in February 2003 on the Sapporo–Tokyo route, enabling passengers to book and travel under ANA branding while benefiting from Air Do's operations.[3] The agreement has since expanded to include additional key domestic routes, such as Asahikawa–Tokyo in July 2003, Hakodate–Tokyo in March 2005, and Memanbetsu–Tokyo in February 2006, covering major Hokkaido connections to Tokyo Haneda and facilitating onward links to ANA hubs like Osaka Itami.[3][31] Under the codeshare, ANA passengers can check in at ANA counters, earn and redeem mileage through ANA's program on eligible flights, and access priority services like lounge entry for premium members, while Air Do handles aircraft and crew.[30] These arrangements support revenue sharing between the carriers, joint marketing initiatives, and enhanced passenger feed to Air Do's regional routes from ANA's larger network, without involving equity ties beyond existing ownership structures.[30][31] Beyond ANA, Air Do maintains limited interline agreements rather than formal codeshares, including synergies with Solaseed Air under their shared holding company established in 2022 for operational efficiencies.[14] In 2025, Air Do collaborated with AirJapan on a promotional campaign targeting Thailand routes, but this did not extend to codeshare operations.[16] Through the ANA partnership, Air Do effectively expands its reach to over 50 destinations via connections, appealing to business travelers and leisure passengers seeking integrated itineraries across Japan.[30]Fleet
Current fleet
As of November 2025, Air Do operates a fleet of 12 aircraft, consisting entirely of narrowbody and widebody models suited for domestic medium-haul routes within Japan.[32] The airline's narrowbody component includes eight Boeing 737-700 aircraft in service, each configured with 144 all-economy seats and averaging 18.5 years of age. These aircraft are primarily deployed on high-frequency short-haul routes, such as those between Sapporo and Tokyo, enabling efficient operations on popular domestic corridors.[32][4] Complementing the fleet are four Boeing 767-300ER widebody aircraft, each accommodating 288 all-economy passengers and averaging 22.4 years of age. These larger jets are utilized on denser medium-haul routes, including services like Sapporo to Fukuoka, to handle higher passenger volumes on key inter-regional links.[32][4] Air Do's fleet strategy prioritizes fuel efficiency amid rising operational costs, with plans for a gradual replacement of the older Boeing 767-300ERs with next-generation Boeing 737 MAX variants delayed to post-2029. All aircraft feature the airline's signature blue-and-yellow livery, incorporating the BearDo motif as a nod to Hokkaido's wildlife heritage.[33] Since 2024, maintenance operations have been consolidated with Solaseed Air through their shared parent entity, Regional Plus Wings, utilizing joint facilities in Sapporo and Miyazaki to streamline costs and enhance reliability.[34]Former fleet
Air Do previously operated a variety of Boeing aircraft types as part of its fleet evolution, focusing on narrow-body and wide-body jets for domestic Japanese routes. These aircraft were gradually phased out to prioritize newer, more fuel-efficient models that better suited the airline's short- and medium-haul operations, with retirements accelerating during financial restructuring periods and efficiency initiatives.[35] The Boeing 737-500 was a key component of Air Do's early narrow-body fleet, with seven aircraft introduced starting in 2008 to serve shorter domestic routes such as those to Fukushima, Kobe, and Komatsu. These jets, configured with 132 seats in an all-economy layout, were retired by January 2016 due to their advancing age, higher operating costs, and lower efficiency compared to successor models like the 737-700. The phase-out aligned with broader fleet modernization efforts to reduce maintenance expenses and improve environmental performance.[36][37] Earlier, Air Do operated two Boeing 737-400 aircraft from 2008 to 2012, each with 126 seats, which were introduced during the airline's initial expansion but retired amid early financial challenges and a push toward fleet uniformity. Similarly, a single Boeing 767-200 wide-body jet was in service briefly from 2003 to 2005, configured for 234 passengers, before being returned to lessors as part of cost-cutting measures.[9] For wide-body operations, Air Do flew five Boeing 767-300 aircraft from 1998 to 2012, typically seating 250-288 passengers in mixed configurations. These were replaced by extended-range variants (767-300ER) to enhance range capabilities on key Hokkaido-Tokyo routes while maintaining capacity; the transition supported maintenance simplification by standardizing on updated Boeing platforms. By 2010, the airline had shifted to an all-Boeing narrow- and wide-body fleet, retiring approximately 10 older aircraft in total through sales or scrapping, with no aircraft placed in long-term storage. Retirements were closely tied to the 2002-2006 restructuring for financial recovery and later 2015 drives for operational efficiency.[9][35]| Aircraft Type | Total | Introduced | Retired | Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-400 | 2 | 2008 | 2012 | 126 (Y) | Retired during early restructuring for fleet uniformity.[9] |
| Boeing 737-500 | 7 | 2008 | 2016 | 132 (Y) | Phased out due to age and inefficiency on short routes; supported restructuring efficiency goals.[36] |
| Boeing 767-200 | 1 | 2003 | 2005 | 234 (Y) | Brief lease; returned amid cost reductions.[9] |
| Boeing 767-300 | 5 | 1998 | 2012 | 250-288 (Y) | Replaced by 767-300ER for improved range and maintenance simplicity.[35] |