Special lecture by Mr. Katsuya Goto of Vanilla Air Co., Ltd. was held during University Hour

On Wednesday, June 14th, as part of University Hour ^*, we held a special lecture by Katsuya Goto, President and CEO of Vanilla Air Inc.
Vanilla Air Co., Ltd. operates seven domestic routes from Narita Airport to Okinawa, Amami Oshima, Taiwan, Ho Chi Minh City, and seven international routes, providing high-quality service at low prices. While it is trying to increase revenue by implementing various cost-cutting measures and providing additional services, its corporate philosophy as a Japanese LCC is to "promote interaction between people through low fares and bring joy to customers and the local community."
This time, the theme was "The Challenge of Low Cost Carriers (Vanilla Air)," and the speaker spoke about the global aviation market, the birth of LCCs, the history of their development, the current market size, and the LCC business model. He also introduced examples of airlines that have brought about great economic benefits to the Amami Islands by launching service to Amami Oshima, and their efforts to pursue quality, such as not only focusing on price but also improving in-flight and airport services and maintaining high flight and on-time flight rates. The students were able to learn a lot in the short 90 minutes.

After the lecture, students hoping to work in the aviation or tourism industry had a chance to talk with Goto, who shared his experiences living abroad, what to study while studying at university, Vanilla Air, jobs in the aviation industry, and various advice on the kind of people society needs. Students commented, "In addition to improving my TOEIC score, I would like to use his advice to help me prepare for my job hunt, including putting together a self-promotional pitch." The University Hour classes and discussions provided a valuable learning opportunity.

*This program was started in October 2008 with the aim of providing many students with the opportunity to share intellectual stimulation, excitement, and a sense of accomplishment, and to foster a sense of university identity at our university. This original class style allows students to experience the significance and possibilities of studying at our university, the learning experiences of each faculty, and career advancement.