Buoyed by record profits, Japanese carrier ANA plans to expand its two low cost airline brands into medium haul international markets .
ANA cites robust growth, and plans to open new medium-haul flights of up to eight hours flying time from Japan for budget carriers Vanilla Air and Peach Aviation.
These routes, which have not been disclosed, would begin sometime around 2020.
In a new four-year strategic plan, ANA said it sees room to expand in the budget medium haul market across Asia and ANA would also look to expand its long haul international network to new markets such as South America, Africa and Russia.
It may also shift smaller jets onto domestic routes to improve efficiency and profits.
The company said it plans to introduce ‘a new small size medium-haul aircraft’ without disclosing which model.
That could be Airbus’ new A321LR single-aisle jet, which just this week completed its maiden flight.
According to Reuters, ANA’s profit for the quarter to December 2017 was up around 25%.
