Peach Aviation, Tigerair, and V Air — Three Budget Carriers Vie for Taipei–Haneda Routes in a Fierce Battle

▲ Peach Aviation is reported to launch the Taipei–Haneda route on August 18. (Photo / Screenshot from Peach Aviation’s official Facebook page)

Reported by Chen Rui-zhong / Taipei

Japan-based low-cost carrierPeach Aviationis reportedly set to start a daily Taipei–Haneda route on August 18. In addition,Tigerair TaiwanandV Air— two local budget carriers — have also secured flight rights from the CAA and are expected to begin Taipei–Haneda services in early 2016. As all three low-cost airlines are assigned to red-eye time slots between 22:00 and 07:00, this new Taiwan–Japan route is expected to become highly competitive.

Both Narita and Haneda airports are major international gateways for Tokyo. Currently, Taiwan-based low-cost carriers flying to Tokyo — Tigerair, Vanilla Air, and Scoot — all operate to Narita. For travelers,Narita Airport is about a 60–70 minute drive from downtown Tokyo, while Haneda Airport can be reached in just around 35 minutes to Tokyo Station, offering significant savings in transit time.With Peach Aviation’s entry, it will become the first low-cost carrier route linking Taipei and Haneda.

Although Haneda is closer to the city center, the key factor lies in “flight timings.” In the past, Taiwan had been allocated seven weekly red-eye flights between Taipei and Haneda, which were assigned to China Airlines and EVA Air. However, due to less favorable departure times, the airlines returned the flight rights, which were subsequently allocated by the CAA to Tigerair Taiwan and V Air — Tigerair Taiwan received four weekly flights, V Air three, and Peach Aviation seven. It is estimated that all these flights will operate during the 22:00–07:00 red-eye window.

▲ Peach Aviation once “incorrectly posted” information about the Taipei–Haneda route on its official website.

On June 15, Peach Aviation revealed on its official website that it would officially launch services on August 18, with round-trip fares starting at 12,000 yen (approximately NT$3,032), sparking widespread public discussion. Liu Ying-chen,marketing and PR manager of Peach Aviation’s Taiwan general agent,responded that the airline is still in the process of applying for the route, and the actual launch date and fares are still being planned. The website information was merely an “error” and the official details are yet to be announced.

V Air spokespersonTang Dun-taialso stated that the airline has formally applied to the Japanese side for the route, with preparations likely to take around six months, and services between Taipei and Haneda are expected to start in early 2016. Regarding the inherent limitations of red-eye flights, Tang believes that different flight times cater to different types of passengers. Overnight departures allow office workers to head straight to the airport after work and begin their day promptly upon arrival in the morning.

▲ V Air, Tigerair Taiwan, and other carriers are also planning to enter the Haneda route in early 2016. (Photo / V Air aircraft, provided by V Air)

As red-eye flights often arrive late at night or early in the morning, travel expert Ms. Hsu also recommends thatpassengers must familiarize themselves with Haneda Airport’s transportation schedules in advance and may communicate with hotels regarding luggage storage or early check-in options. Additionally, preparing for sleep before boarding and wearing comfortable clothing can help travelers make the most of the three-hour flight for rest.

What is a red-eye flight?
 Red-eye flights generally refer to flights that depart late at night or in the early hours and arrive the next morning. These flights usually take off during people’s normal sleeping hours, and the flight duration is less than the typical eight hours of sleep, so passengers often board and disembark looking drowsy with red eyes — hence the name “red-eye flights.”