AirAsia Japan starts flying

Tokyo: AirAsia Japan Co. became the third budget airline to start flights in the country this year, stepping up competition with full-service operators. The first service left Tokyo’s Narita airport on time at 7am and arrived at Fukuoka at 9am, according to a statement from the company, which is part-owned by AirAsia Bhd., the region’s biggest discount airline. There were 118 passengers and six crew on the Airbus SAS A320, it said.