Zipair and Bic Camera partner to sell wagyu beef to tourists

Zipair Tokyo, the budget airline subsidiary of Japan Airlines, has launched a new service in collaboration with Bic Camera, allowing tourists to purchase premium wagyu beef at the electronics retailer's stores in Tokyo. This initiative, announced on June 19, aims to simplify the process for international visitors who wish to take Japanese wagyu beef home as a souvenir.

The partnership leverages the expertise of multiple entities. JA Zen-Noh Meat Foods Co., Ltd. is responsible for procuring the wagyu beef from producers across Japan, while JAL Cargo Service Co., Ltd. handles the storage, packaging, export quarantine procedures, and transportation of the beef to the airport check-in counter. Zipair Tokyo manages the overall service and handles the complex export quarantine procedures, offering a stress-free shopping experience for tourists.

This service was initially introduced on January 31, 2024, for passengers flying on Zipair's routes from Narita to Singapore and select destinations in the United States. Customers can order and pay for the wagyu beef on Zipair's official website up to 48 hours before their flight departure, confirm the product at the check-in counter on the day of departure, and check it in as baggage. Zipair, described as a "NEW BASIC AIRLINE," seeks to provide new value and excitement to its passengers, with over half of its customers being from overseas who have shown a strong interest in taking Japanese wagyu home.