| Airline: | Japan Transocean Air Co., Ltd. |
| Iata: | NU |
| Icao: | JTA |
| Callsign: | JAI OCEAN[1] |
| Founded: | |
| Headquarters: | Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan |
| Key People: | Nozomi Noguchi (President & CEO) |
| Hubs: | Naha Airport |
| Focus Cities: | New Ishigaki Airport |
| Fleet Size: | 14 |
| Destinations: | 15 |
| Num Employees: | 814 (31 March 2023) [2] |
Japan Transocean Air (JTA) is an airline based in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.[3] It operates domestic services on behalf of Japan Airlines. Its main base is Naha Airport.[4] From 1967 until 1993, the airline was known as Southwest Air Lines.
The airline was established on 20 June 1967 as, and started operations in July 1967. It changed its name in July 1993. It had 814 employees (in March 2023) and is owned by Japan Airlines (51.1%), Naha Airport Terminal (17%), Okinawa Prefecture (12.9%) and others (19.1%)[4] 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 74.5% of Ryukyu Air Commuter. At one time the head office of Southwest Air Lines was at 306-1 Kagamizu in Naha.[5]
JTA serves the following destinations:[6]
, Japan Transocean Air operates the following aircraft:[8]
Japan Transocean Air has previously operated the following aircraft:
Since the airline's foundation, there has only been one accident which was under the former Southwest Air Lines brand.