Spring Airlines Japan (Tokyo Narita) is to commence full operations in the second half of this year when it débuts flights between Tokyo Narita and Kumamoto to be operated with the airline's sole B737-800. The announcement marks a thaw in relations between China and Japan that had become frosty in recent months owing to a diplomatic dispute over the Diaoyu Islands and which had subsequently forced parent carrier, Spring Airlines (9C, Shanghai Hongqiao), to shelve plans to launch its Japanese subsidiary in the first half of this year.