ZipAir Announces Vancouver Flights In 2024

ZipAir has announced plans to serve Vancouver International Airport in Canada, effective March 13, 2024, to bolster its Transpacific network.

Breaking Down The New ZipAir Flights

ZipAir will operate service from Tokyo Narita to Vancouver on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The service has been designated the ZG22/ZG21 flight number.

For March only, the airline says it’ll see departure from Tokyo at 1600 and arrival in Vancouver at 0830. After two hours on the ground, departure from Canada will occur at 1030, with a touchdown in Narita the next day at 1300.

However, ZipAir says this schedule will adjust slightly from March 31, 2024, to June 30, 2024, when departure from Nartia will occur at 1540 and arrival into Vancouver at 0825. A 1025 departure from Vancouver sees a 1225 arrival into Tokyo Narita the following day.

Currently, the flights are still subject to regulatory and governmental approvals. However, ZipAir fully intends to add Vancouver as its first destination towards Canada and an enhancement on its North American market.

Understanding The ZipAir Model

ZipAir was launched as a direct subsidiary of Japan Airlines, specifically slotting into the industry’s low-cost and no-frills market. This is quite the opposite of the Japan Airlines brand.

Founded in 2018 with operations commencing during the global pandemic, the airline has grown a modest fleet of Boeing 787-8 aircraft transferred from Japan Airlines.

The idea behind the name ZipAir was to directly reference the element of speed: Zip towards your next destination quickly and efficiently.

Since its launch, the airline has continued to expand its operations through the backing of Japan Airlines; this has seen its global network extend well past Asia and towards cities such as Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, and soon-to-be Vancouver.

ZipAir To Compete With Air Canada

Cirium data indicates that when Zip Air launches service towards Vancouver from Tokyo Narita, it’ll compete with Air Canada. However, its owner, Japan Airlines, also features.

Data indicates that For December 2023, Air Canada offered 62 flights between the destinations, equating to a daily service. This resulted in 20,550 seats based on the aircraft being flown.

However, ZipAir will enter the market and be the first airline to offer a low-cost alternative to flying between the two locations, giving Japan Airlines the upper hand, especially for onward connectivity towards Asia.