EG · JAA · Active
Japan Asia Airways
Japan · ASIA

18
Routes
6
Hubs
JAA
ICAO
EG
IATA
TravelerPulse profile
Japan Airlines subsidiary serving Taiwan and beyond.
Founded
1975
Headquarters
Tokyo, Japan
Japan Asia Airways (JAA) was a Japanese airline established as a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan Airlines (JAL). It was created primarily to maintain commercial air service between Japan and Taiwan after Japan severed official diplomatic relations with the Republic of China in 1972, as JAL itself could not serve both mainland China and Taiwan simultaneously under political constraints.
The airline operated scheduled passenger and cargo services between Japan and Taiwan, filling a politically necessary role in bilateral air transport. It used the IATA code EG and ICAO code JAA, operating under the callsign ASIA.
Japan Asia Airways ceased independent operations in 2008, when Japan Airlines absorbed its routes and reintegrated Taiwan services under the main JAL brand following a normalization of the commercial aviation arrangement. The airline's closure marked the end of a decades-long workaround necessitated by the complex diplomatic situation in the region.
Hubs & network
The airline primarily operated out of Tokyo's Narita International Airport, serving destinations in Taiwan including Taipei's Taoyuan International Airport.
Fleet
Japan Asia Airways operated aircraft types common to JAL's fleet during its era, including Boeing 747s and other widebody jets on its Japan-Taiwan routes.
Notable facts
- ›Founded as a subsidiary of Japan Airlines in 1975 to navigate diplomatic restrictions on serving both China and Taiwan.
- ›Its creation was necessitated by Japan's 1972 normalization of relations with the People's Republic of China, which required JAL to stop serving Taiwan.
- ›Operated scheduled services primarily between Japan and Taiwan for over three decades.
- ›Ceased operations in 2008 when JAL reintegrated Taiwan routes under its own brand.
- ›Represented a unique example of a politically motivated airline subsidiary in commercial aviation history.
This profile is provided for general information only. Contact details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airline's official website before acting on them.
Primary hubs
Route network map (18 legs)






Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO
Route network
CIT → LED320
DMB → DME320
DMB → SVX320
DME → KQT320
DME → TJU320
KQT → CIT320
KQT → DMB320
KQT → OVB320
KQT → REN320
LED → KQT320
LED → TJU320
OVB → KQT320
REN → KQT320
SVX → KQT320
SVX → TJU320
TJU → CIT320
TJU → DME320
TJU → SVX320
Fleet (aircraft types operated)
Encyclopaedia
Japan Asia Airways (JAA) was a subsidiary of Japan Airlines (JAL) founded due to the legal status of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and territory disputes with the People's Republic of China in order to allow Japan Airlines to continue flying to Taiwan from Japan. JAA was headquartered in the Japan Airlines Building in Shinagawa, Tokyo.
Read full article on WikipediaLatest news
nippon.com· 9/21/2018
Corridor Through the Clouds: The Legacy of Japan Asia Airways
Read at nippon.com
Simple Flying· 7/5/2022
JAL Express: The Story Of Japan Airlines' Former Regional Subsidiary
Read at Simple Flying
aeroroutes.com· 5/26/2025
Route Map: Japan Asia Airways NW89 Network
Read at aeroroutes.com
Taipei Times· 7/31/2019
JAL fetes 60th anniversary of first flight to Songshan
Read at Taipei Times
nippon.com· 9/27/2019
JAL and ANA Fly High for Their Customer Service in Airline Rankings
Read at nippon.com
aeroroutes.com· 3/4/2025
Route Map: JAL NS91 International Network
Read at aeroroutes.com
Translate