Japan Airlines

Ms STINSON (Badcoe) (14:55): My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. How is the state government developing its relationship with Japanese flag carrier, JAL?

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION (Taylor—Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Planning) (14:55): I thank the member for Badcoe for her question and acknowledge her support for Flight Training Adelaide located at Parafield Airport, which early next month will have new aviation cadets commence commercial aviation training at its industry-leading aviation training facility.

Earlier today, the Premier and I had the privilege to welcome J-Air cadet pilots Ms Nomoto, Mr Matsuda, Mr Kimijima and the managing director of J-Air, Mr Kotaro Kurono, and Japanese media outlets to our state parliament. Today's visit by J-Air and its cadet pilots marks a significant milestone in our state's relationship with the Japanese flag carrier, Japan Airlines (JAL).

The airline has a proud history in the domestic and international aviation industry, celebrating its 70^th anniversary last year, while this year, 2022, marks its 10^th year listed on the Tokyo stock exchange. J-Air, which is JAL's regional commuter service, services 17 destinations across Japan under JAL flight numbers. This June, the first initial beta courses will commence at Flight Training Adelaide, recommencing a long-term relationship between Flight Training Adelaide and J-Air.

Between 2006 and 2011, FTA trained a total of approximately 160 commercial airline pilots for J-Air until JAL underwent its corporate restructure prior to public listing. FTA is delivering the first of two beta courses to J-Air to conduct the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau licence training. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Mr Pine Pienaar, the chief executive officer and director of FTA, along with the FTA Parafield chief operating officer, Mr David Troy, for their contribution and commitment to re-establishing this important relationship.

On completion of the two beta courses, FTA is looking to gain full JCAB approval to conduct training at FTA for J-Air cadets to achieve their Japanese commercial pilot licence and instrument rating. The ongoing certification program will make a multimillion-dollar contribution to the state's economy over its lifetime and demonstrates that global trade and partnerships are reawakening following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Investment in our state by respected multinationals such as JAL will continue to advance the Japanese aviation industry both in Australia and in Japan. We hope that this relationship, along with J-Air's burgeoning footprint in Adelaide, is the first step to having direct passenger routes from Adelaide to Tokyo, which prior to COVID-19 had some 60,000 travellers per annum and obviously that would benefit air cargo, tourism and international education.

I wish the FTA and J-Air's cadets all the very best with the commencement of this training program and look forward to these pilots making their first passenger flights on a direct JAL flight from Tokyo to Adelaide soon.