Staff writer
Offering discount fares and focusing on the popular Tokyo-Fukuoka route, Skymark Airlines appeared to be off to a flying start a year ago. But in recent months, the no-frills carrier has been defending its skies from Japan's major players -- Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways and Japan Air System.
"Our company contributed to bringing air travel closer to consumers by setting lower fares, the only sales point that we can offer to consumers in competing with the major airlines," said Takashi Ide, president of Skymark, which was established in 1996 mainly by discount air ticket seller H.I.S. Co. and major leasing firm Orix Corp.