IBEX Airlines: Who Flies the Regional Jets Between Sendai and Japan

The fleet and the link with ANA

The choice of the Embraer E170/E175, jets with roughly 70-80 seats, reflects a precise strategy: serving routes where the larger-capacity narrow-body aircraft typical of ANA and JAL would not be economically viable. Between 2024 and 2025, ANA and IBEX jointly announced an order for the new-generation Embraer E190-E2, with deliveries expected from the end of the decade, a sign of ever closer industrial integration between the two carriers.

History

Founded in 2000 as Japan's regional market opened up, IBEX chose Embraer aircraft from the outset in a market dominated by turboprops and higher-capacity Boeing/Airbus jets. The capital alliance with ANA, signed in 2005, stabilized the airline by giving it a clear role in the group's hub-and-spoke system, with IBEX flights often sold and numbered as ANA codeshare flights.

Routes and network

The network focuses on routes from its two bases, Sendai and Osaka, to mid-sized Japanese cities that do not justify larger aircraft, serving more to fill out the domestic network than to cover high-demand routes. It is a model similar to that of many regional operators partnered with major airlines in Europe and North America, applied to the Japanese context.

IBEX Airlines is most useful for travelers who need to reach mid-sized Japanese cities not served by direct flights from the major carriers, and who often book through the ANA website or channels thanks to the codeshare. It is not the right choice for anyone looking for the space and comfort of a larger mainline jet: the cabin of the regional Embraers is narrower and the service is basic. A practical tip: always check whether the flight is sold under an IBEX number or as an ANA codeshare, because baggage check-in policies can differ slightly between the two booking systems.