Clifford Chance has advised Shanghai-based Spring Airlines Co., Ltd. (Spring Airlines), China's first and only low-cost airline, on the establishment of, and its investment in, Spring Airlines Japan Co., Ltd, (Spring Japan) a low-cost carrier entrant to the Japanese domestic airline market. Spring Japan was granted approval from Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to commence operations in May 2014.

Spring Airlines Japan Co., Ltd. plans to operate three domestic services from Tokyo Narita to Takamatsu, Hiroshima and Saga from the end of May 2014.

Tokyo partner Andrew Whan who led the Clifford Chance team advising Spring Airlines commented, "We are very pleased to have assisted Spring Airlines on this transaction which will bring further competition to the Japanese domestic airline market. We look forward to continuing to assist Spring Japan when it commences its operations."

Andrew was supported on this deal by partner Tatsuhiko Kamiyama and associates Maiko Adachi, Yoko Matsumura and Shao-Qiang Boey.