Jetstar Japan

Jetstar Japan (IATA code GK) is a Japanese low-cost airline headquartered in Narita, Chiba Prefecture. Wikipedia counts 20 destinations, mostly within Japan, with international routes to China, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Taiwan. Its bases are Tokyo Narita, Osaka Kansai and Nagoya Centrair. As of October 2026 it still flies as Jetstar, but its Australian shareholder is leaving and the airline has said it will change its name.

History

Jetstar Japan was founded in 2011 and began flying on 3 July 2012 from Narita, with Fukuoka as its first route. Kansai became a base in June 2014, and the first international service, Kansai–Hong Kong, was announced in December 2014. The original shareholders included Japan Airlines, Qantas, Mitsubishi Corporation and Tokyo Century; JAL bought Mitsubishi's stake in 2019.

Ownership change and new brand

Qantas announced in February 2026 that it would leave the airline. On 4 August 2026 Qantas and JAL announced a binding agreement under which Jetstar Japan will buy back Qantas's 33.32% stake and the Development Bank of Japan will join as a new shareholder. JAL (50%) and Tokyo Century (16.68%) keep their holdings, leaving the airline wholly Japanese-owned. Completion was expected by June 2027, subject to regulatory approval.

The Jetstar name will go with Qantas. According to a Japanese travel-industry report of 15 October 2026, the announcement of the new brand has been put back by about three months, from October 2026 to around January 2027, while the switch itself is still planned for July 2027. Some aircraft already carry interim paint that partly covers the Jetstar logo.

Fleet

Jetstar Japan flies the Airbus A320 family. A Wikipedia fleet table dated July 2026 lists 23 aircraft: 20 A320-200s and three A321LRs, with five more on order. Some of the A320s returned from lease to Jetstar Asia, which Qantas closed in 2025.

How it sells

Jetstar Japan follows the Jetstar fare model: the basic Starter fare includes only carry-on baggage, and checked baggage is sold separately or included in some bundles. Starter passengers may bring two carry-on items with a combined weight of 7 kg, and an extra 7 kg can be bought on selected routes.