Osaka enters the era of low-cost carrier competition as Vanilla Air plans to launch Taipei (Taoyuan)–Osaka flights in April

▲ Vanilla Air plans to launch the Taoyuan–Osaka route. (Photo / from Vanilla Air’s official Facebook page)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

More and more low-cost carriers are joining the race to capture the Japanese Osaka market. According to Japanese media reports, Vanilla Air has also announced that it plans to commence its first flights on the Taipei (Taoyuan)–Osaka route in late April. In the future, travelers departing from Taoyuan Airport for Osaka will have options including Vanilla Air, Peach Aviation, V Air, Tigerair Taiwan, and Jetstar Japan.

Currently, Vanilla Air only operates direct flights between Taipei / Kaohsiung and Tokyo Narita in Taiwan. Recently, it has also introduced routes where passengers can fly directly to Narita Airport and then take domestic flights to Sapporo in Hokkaido. Although there are no direct flights to Hokkaido, it does offer travelers new transportation options. With the increasing number of foreign visitors to Japan, Vanilla Air is also looking to compete in the Osaka low-cost carrier market, though flight schedules have not yet been announced.

To accommodate more foreign visitors, Kansai International Airport is currently undergoing construction of a dedicated terminal for low-cost carriers, which is expected to be completed and operational in 2017.

▲ Kansai Airport in Osaka is currently constructing a dedicated terminal for low-cost carriers. (Illustration / photo by reporter Tsai Wen-jun)