Toki Air (BV, Niigata) has taken delivery of its first ATR72-600 in Toulouse Blagnac ahead of the airline's delayed launch. On October 8, the start-up signed a lease agreement with Nordic Aviation Capital before taking possession of JA01QQ (msn 1565). According to Toki Air, the aircraft will ferry to the airline's Niigata base later in October. Built into the lease package is a ten-year ATR Global Maintenance Agreement.
Toki Air is sticking to a planned late 1Q 2023 launch while it attempts to finalise its air operator's certificate (AOC) and secure its financial position. It reportedly applied to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) for its AOC in mid-September while more recently, ch-aviation has revealed Toki Air had obtained a JPY1.16 billion (USD8.1 million) loan from Niigata Prefecture to tide it over until it starts flying and generating revenue.
Toki Air will become the first airline to be based at Niigata, located around 300 kilometres northwest of Tokyo. According to the ch-aviation PRO airports module, five airlines already serve the airport, including ANA - All Nippon Airways, JAL - Japan Airlines, Fuji Dream Airlines, Ibex Airlines and Korean Air which offers Niigata's sole international service to Seoul Incheon. Using two ATR72-600s, Tokiair has previously said it plans to start flights from Niigata to Sapporo Okadama followed up by flights to Sendai later in 2023.
