Japan Transocean Air
Japan Transocean Air Co., Ltd., or JTA, is an airline based in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It operates domestic services on behalf of Japan Airlines. Its main base is Naha Airport. From 1967 until 1993, the airline was known as Southwest Air Lines.
History
The airline was established on 20 June 1967 as Southwest Air Lines, and started operations in July 1967. It changed its name in July 1993. It has 718 employees and is owned by Japan Airlines, Naha Airport Terminal, Okinawa Prefecture and others It flew Convair 240s until new capital from JAL allowed it to upgrade to NAMC YS-11s, and eventually Boeing 737s. JTA occasionally lends aircraft to JAL in the event of equipment failure. JTA also provides maintenance services for JAL Group Boeing 737-400 aircraft. JTA owns 72.9% of Ryukyu Air Commuter. At one time the head office of Southwest Air Lines was at 306-1 Kagamizu in Naha.Destinations
JTA serves the following destinations:| Island | City | Airport | Notes | Refs |
| Kyushu | Fukuoka | Fukuoka Airport | ||
| Ryukyu Islands | Ishigaki | New Ishigaki Airport | ||
| Kyushu | Kagoshima | Kagoshima Airport | ||
| Shikoku | Kōchi | Kōchi Airport | ||
| Honshu | Komatsu | Komatsu Airport | ||
| Ryukyu Islands | Kumejima | Kumejima Airport | ||
| Shikoku | Matsuyama | Matsuyama Airport | ||
| Ryukyu Islands | Miyakojima | Miyako Airport | ||
| Ryukyu Islands | Miyakojima | Shimojishima Airport | ||
| Honshu | Nagoya | Chubu Centrair International Airport | ||
| Ryukyu Islands | Naha | Naha Airport | ||
| Honshu | Okayama | Okayama Airport | ||
| Honshu | Osaka | Kansai International Airport | ||
| Honshu | Osaka | Osaka International Airport | ||
| Honshu | Tokyo | Haneda International Airport | ||
| Ryukyu Islands | Yonaguni | Yonaguni Airport |
Fleet
Current Fleet
The Japan Transocean Air fleet consists of the following aircraft :| Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
| Boeing 737-800 | 12 | 12 | 165 | |
| Total | 12 | 12 |
Former Fleet
- Boeing 737-200
- Boeing 737-400
- Boeing 767-200
- NAMC YS-11
Accidents and incidents
- On 26 August 1982, Southwest Air Lines Flight 611, a Boeing 737-2Q3, registration JA8444, overran the runway at Ishigaki Airport and was destroyed. None of the 138 passengers and crew were killed but some were injured during the emergency evacuation.