Flight details
- Airline: Air Japan
- Class: Economy
- Aircraft: Boeing 787-8
- Route: Seoul (ICN) to Tokyo Haneda (HND)
- Flight time: 2 Hours 5 Minutes
Introducing Asia’s New Low-Cost Airline
Today, we are flying on what I believe could be the world’s next best budget airline. Welcome on board Air Japan, the new low-cost airline in Asia! Flying a discount carrier can sometimes be miserable, painful, and tiring—especially in Europe.
However, I tried the newly launched Air Japan on a flight from South Korea to Japan, and what I experienced on board was mind-blowing: great food, fast internet, generous legroom, kind crew, and clean toilets.
So read on if you’re interested in the full review as I introduce Asia’s newest airline!
Check-in Experience at Seoul
My journey started in South Korea’s capital, Seoul, flying on Air Japan, a budget airline that only started operations in 2024.
I reached the check-in counter for Air Japan a little early so I had to wait around 20 minutes before I could start my check-in. I must say, though—Incheon Airport is one of the greatest in the world so I wasn’t complaining spending a bit of time there!
The check-in process was smooth, and I was greeted by a very lovely and efficient agent. It all took less than a minute!
I was asked to wait five minutes in case my luggage was selected for a random inspection. I could proceed to the gate if nobody called my name over the speakers. So far, the experience was good—very lovely service, especially for a budget airline.
Waiting to Board Air Japan
When I made my way to the gate, the plane had not yet arrived. Looking at FlightRadar, I noticed that Air Japan’s incoming Dreamliner appeared to be diverting to Yuan, China.
If true, this would be a big blow to my travel plans, as I was set to fly Emirates First Class to Dubai later that night. However, as I saw the plane started descending, I realized that FlightRadar might have had an error with the airport codes. Crisis averted!
Finally, our 14-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner arrived. Air Japan’s fleet currently consists of just two planes, operating flights to Seoul, Singapore, and Bangkok. 4 more Dreamliners are expected to join the fleet in 2025.
On-Board Air Japan’s 787-8 Dreamliner
I was the first to board Air Japan’s Dreamliner to Tokyo. The cabin has an economy-only configuration with 324 seats in a 3-3-3 layout.
The first impression? It looked very clean, fresh, and new, despite being one of the oldest Dreamliners in the world. The aircraft previously flew for ANA, the launch customer of the Dreamliner.
The first thing you notice is the lack of a middle galley—Air Japan removed it to add more seats. But even as a budget airline, the setup is impressive.
Each seat has USB and USB-C ports, a small panel to call the cabin crew, a tablet or phone holder, a foldable table, and a bottle holder. The legroom is outstanding—better than many legacy airlines!
My seat, 40K, was in the last row, which is one of my travel hacks on a Dreamliner. Since the cabin narrows from 3-3-3 to 2-3-2 at the back, it provides extra space for stretching out.
The crew had big smiles on their faces, making the boarding experience very welcoming. Interestingly, there were stickers on the wall advising passengers not to use the space near my seat as a walkway to the lavatory or galley.
Meal Service and Wi-Fi on Air Japan
20 minutes into the flight, my pre-ordered meal arrived. Along with my meal, I received a bottle of water and cutlery. Air Japan also offers Wi-Fi with pricing as follows:
- $7 for 30 minutes
- $17 for 3 hours
- $20.95 for the entire flight (advertised as 24 hours)
The meal? A simple sandwich. It looked dry, but surprisingly, it was tender, moist, and flavorful—one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had on an airline!
If you didn’t pre-order, meals are available for purchase on board via credit card only.
Lavatory Check
After enjoying my sandwich, it was time for the infamous lavatory review!
The cleanliness of the cabin continued into the lavatories, which were spotless. The generous legroom also continued to impress me—better than most legacy airlines.
For a budget airline, Air Japan truly excels in passenger comfort.
Landing in Tokyo
After a successful flight, we began our descent into Tokyo Narita.
Something mysterious happened just before landing. The passenger in front of me went to the lavatory about 10 minutes before touchdown and never returned. Maybe the lavatory swallowed her! A true aviation mystery.
After landing, I proceeded through the arrival experience. In true Japanese efficiency, my bag was already waiting for me at the luggage belt—everything worked like clockwork!
Final Thoughts on Air Japan – The Best Budget Airline?
I took a bus from Narita to Haneda, as I had another flight to catch—this time, Emirates First Class to Dubai. But before that, I wanted to give my final thoughts on Air Japan.
Air Japan exceeded my expectations. Great new seats, fantastic legroom, clean cabins, delicious food, and a friendly crew—this airline ranks right at the top of budget carriers. I highly recommend them! There’s nothing I can really fault about Air Japan, and I would gladly fly with them again.
That’s it for Air Japan’s review! I then flew on Emirates’ First Class from Tokyo to Dubai on which you can read my full review on my blog.
If you want to support my work, check out my Patreon page. You get some extra perks like joining my WhatsApp group, picking the next airline I review, get a Cahill keyring, or early access to my videos.
If you’re interested in the gear I use on my travels having taken over 600+ flights, check out My Gear page.
This is it, wherever you’re off to, have a safe trip.
FOLLOW MY JOURNEY
About the Author
Josh Cahill is an award-winning Aviation YouTuber who is reportedly one of the most-watched flight reviewers on the internet. He organised Afghanistan’s first all-female flight together with Kam Air in February 2021 on a flight from Herat to Kabul for which he received the Aviation Achievement Award. His favourite hobby? Flying exotic airlines nobody has ever heard of.
