Fuji Dream Airlines Launches Cargo Service Using E-Jet Fleet's Underfloor Capacity

Japanese Embraer E-Jet operator Fuji Dream Airlines has launched an air cargo service, handling small consignments of freight in the underfloor holds of its aircraft.

The service, which began earlier this month, is based at Fuji Dream’s Shizuoka home hub, between Tokyo and Osaka, on Honshu, Japan’s largest island.

“We're starting off on a limited basis, loading fresh vegetables from Hokkaido [the country’s northernmost major island] and transporting them to Shizuoka,” the airline said. “We will … gradually expand the business.”

The new cargo service will make use of Fuji Dream’s existing scheduled passenger service network, which covers 17 destinations. It is intended to act as a new revenue stream.

Fuji Dream has been operating regional services since 2009, when it saw an opportunity to link underserved communities after mainline airlines reduced or cut domestic service at the time of the financial crash.

It began flying from Shizuoka Airport in 2009 with a single Embraer 170. Today, the carrier operates two 76-seat E170s and 13 84-seat E175s. All are operated in single-class configurations. Apart from its Shizuoka hub, the company operates bases at Fukuoka, Kobe and Nagoya.