Hokkaido Air System Logo PNG
The Hokkaido Air System logo reflects the geographic and cultural essence of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture, renowned for its distinctive natural beauty. The design encapsulates the region’s spirit, illustrating the airline’s commitment to serving Hokkaido’s residents and connecting them with the rest of Japan. The emblem represents a promise to explore and discover, inviting passengers to experience Hokkaido’s rich heritage and pristine environments.
Hokkaido Air System: Brand overview
Hokkaido Air System was established in 1997 to provide regional air transportation on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The airline began operations in 1998, offering turboprop flights connecting the city of Sapporo to other destinations in Hokkaido.
In the following decade, it expanded its presence in Hokkaido and incorporated small jets into its operations to provide routes to Tokyo. The airline has played a critical role in bridging the gap between Hokkaido’s population centers and serving tourists traveling to and from Hokkaido’s ski resorts and Tokyo.
However, the recent shrinking local population and airport closures have hurt airline service demand. This led Hokkaido Air System to discontinue several regional flights that no longer made economic sense.
The airline operates only two routes, from Sapporo to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and Shiretoko Airport. A modest fleet of three airplanes supports this.
Although Hokkaido Air System has provided valuable air service for a quarter century, the airline now stands at a crossroads as Japan’s regional market shrinks. The airline will likely continue to adapt its business model, fleet, and network to meet the changing market dynamics in northern Japan.
Meaning and History
1997 – 2002
From 1997 to 2002, Hokkaido Air System used a visual symbol emblematic of its initial stage in the aviation market. The company’s logo was designed as a charming bird-plane, symbolizing the carrier’s mascot. This fledgling bird, representing the airline’s birth and early steps in the industry, visually soared upward into the skies, breaking away from the ground. This image was filled with symbolism of learning and the airline’s aspiration to master the airspace, similar to a bird learning to fly.
The logo included large blue letters NAC, interpreted as Hokkaido Airport in Chitose, reflecting the airline’s geographic connection to this airport. It is noted that the abbreviation HAS had already been used by another service at the airport, leading to the selection of the closely sounding alternative NAC for the airline’s name.
Below the English name of the company is its Chinese equivalent, highlighting its international presence and focus on the Asian market. Elements of animation style combined with blue colors give the logo a friendly and welcoming appearance, making it memorable and appealing to a broad audience, including families with children.
2002 – 2011
The new logo design features bold, black letters that convey power and confidence. This design choice is linked to the company’s expansion of its network of serviced airports, highlighting its growth and development. The bold letters suggest stability and reliability, essential for airlines aiming to strengthen trust among passengers and partners.
A futuristic metallic line replacing the horizontal bar in the letter “A” represents an upward trajectory reminiscent of the company’s dynamic and ambitious nature. This upward line visually resembles ascending airplanes, emphasizing the airline’s commitment to innovation and continual development.
The new logo incorporates principles of modern service and quick flights, which are key elements of the company’s offerings.
2011 – 2014
In 2011, after leaving JAL Group, the company changed its emblem radically, signaling a new beginning and a revised corporate strategy. The new logo features green, which is traditionally associated with growth, rebirth, and innovation. The choice of green reflects the company’s commitment to development and adapting to new market conditions.
The logo’s letters are in uppercase with sharp glyphs, giving them a dynamic and modern appearance. The shape of the letters resembles the motion of a jet ascending and then descending, reflecting the ups and downs that any airline experiences during its development. The design includes elements reminiscent of aircraft takeoff trajectories, emphasizing the company’s connection to the aviation industry and its core activities.
The new logo’s green color represents renewal and the company’s desire to grow, explore new horizons, and seize opportunities. It highlights the company’s environmental awareness and commitment to more sustainable development, which is increasingly important today.
2014 – today
The main identifying mark of the Hokkaido Air System is the black abbreviation “HAS” in bold italics. Next to it is the emblem of the carrier’s parent company, Japan Airlines. The emblem is an image of a crane known as Tsurumaru. Inspired by samurai crests, the bird’s image represents Japanese culture and symbolizes steadfastness and loyalty. The crane’s wings form a circle, and a graceful head on a long neck is in the center. On the bird’s chest are the white letters “JAL.”
Combining the HAS acronym and the Japan Airlines logo serves two purposes. It reinforces Hokkaido Air System’s corporate identity while emphasizing its connection to its parent company. The use of the Tsurumaru symbol, deeply rooted in Japanese culture, reinforces the logo’s cultural resonance. The circular shape of the crane symbolizes unity and integrity, which is interpreted as a commitment to comprehensive service and customer satisfaction.
