Skymark Airlines raided by officials after pilot failed alcohol test
Japan transport ministry officials conducted an on-site inspection of Skymark Airlines, after one of its pilots tested positive for excess alcohol last month.
It is the third Japanese airline to be inspected following several breathalyser test failures in recent weeks, which have put the industry’s drinking culture in the spotlight.
All Nippon Airways and JAL have also been raided after flight delays caused by over-the-limit pilots reporting for duty.
A JAL pilot was jailed last week in the UK for being nearly 10 times over the legal limit.
The Skymark pilot’s failed test also caused a delay to a flight at Tokyo Haneda Airport on November 14.
Skymark said the pilot consumed 3.5 litres of beer the night before.
The ministry is cracking down and will convene a meeting with executives from 25 domestic airlines on Wednesday to discuss preventative measures.
The government is also mulling new rules to extend the time a pilot is not allowed to consume alcohol before a flight.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025