China is undoubtedly the biggest market in the world which attracts a never-ending flow of businessmen from around the world travelling back and forth to close deals, hold meetings and attend expos. Japan is one of the countries that has close business ties with China.
Although the countries are only a few hours apart by air, most people from the archipelago don’t have easy access to China’s mainland and have to rely on connecting flights that can last for more than seven hours with layovers in South Korea.
One of the cities that doesn’t offer direct flights to Tokyo is Changsha, the provincial capital of Hunan; but a Chinese smartphone manufacturer discovered a way to get his team of representatives to Tokyo within a few hours instead of relying on commercial flights that could take all day. As a result, the company was able to close two major deals with smartphone makers in Japan.
Japan recently regulated its aviation industry to travelling more flexible and convenient for businesspeople
Japan Revolutionizing Business Aviation
Japan is aiming to become the most business-friendly country in the world and in order to achieve this goal, it is deregulating its aviation industry, making it easy for businessmen to make quick, spontaneous trips anywhere in the world. This latest step in improving the nation’s infrastructure, after the commercialization of logistics terminals and hyper-modern bullet trains, will allow more flexibility and convenience in passengers’ travel plans.
TAG Aviation Asia’s CEO, Jolie Howard, says that the number of clients and businessmen traveling back and forth from Japan has gone up over the past two years due to increased flexibility in departure and arrival times. TAG Aviation Asia is a Hong Kong-based company that specializes in aircraft charter and management.
Howard says that passengers only need to give a flying notice three days before the trip and have the freedom to specify which airport they’d prefer to land in and at what time. Even Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, which was previously closed to early-morning and late-night flights, will be available for landing at any specified time and parking slot.
TAG Aviation Expands Business
TAG Aviation group is a Swiss-based aviation brand that manages long-range business flights in Europe and U.S. Its Asian branch, TAG Aviation Asia, specializes in providing private air travel to a select group of Chinese businesspeople with high net worth. According to Howard’s estimation, the company has seen a 40 per cent growth in business air travel from China to Japan in 2017 and the upward trend is likely to continue in 2018 as well.
Howard explains that his company is not in direct competition with other commercial airline in the business since TAG Aviation only caters to a small percentage of the population and expands air travel to places where most commercial jets won’t go. The two businesses are like buses and taxis which is why it is possible for them to coexist without being in competition with one another.
Howard says that the Asian market for the business jet industry is only a decade old, hence has a lot of potential for growth. Connecting China and Japan through personalized air travel is a lucrative business since Japan is quickly becoming the most business-friendly country in the continent with its state-of-the-art infrastructure and transportation system.
TAG Aviation Asia has seen a 40 per cent growth in business air travel from China to Japan in 2017 and the upward trend is likely to continue in 2018 as well
Future of Japanese Aviation Industry
Till now, Japan’s business aviation industry has been limited to only 50 licensed and registered jets. But with recent expansion in its public and private sectors, the country is opening up its skies to businesses and clients from around the world.
In 2010, Japan deregulated its aviation industry by created a terminal at Haneda Airport for private international flights with dedicated parking spots as per the clients’ request.
Now, more than 50 international business jets land in Japan every week. Other airports in the country are also working on expanding services to business jet travelers. Last month, Kansai International Airport launched a premium facility for business travelers who could access 24-hour service, more privacy, efficient security checks and pick-up and drop-off facilities. Clients can submit application for a flight before noon, a day before expected arrival.
