Skymark Airlines Inc., Japan's largest discount carrier, may start its first regular overseas flights in the first half of next year as the company seeks to broaden its customer base.

The Tokyo-based airline plans to fly between Taipei and Okinawa, President Shinichi Nishikubo said in an interview Tuesday.

"If there is demand and if we can secure profitability," the airline would consider operating flights to Hong Kong, the Philippines or South Korea from Japan in addition to Taiwan, Nishikawa said.

Skymark's overseas expansion would come as All Nippon Airways Co. and Japan Airlines Corp., the country's two largest carriers, abandon unprofitable overseas routes. Skymark may delay international flights to focus on domestic routes if it receives a "substantial" number of new slots at Tokyo's Haneda airport next month, Nishikubo said.

Nishikubo reiterated Skymark's forecast of a ¥1.5 billion profit in the year ending March 31, compared with a net loss of ¥2 billion the previous year.

The carrier, with a fleet of 12 aircraft, plans to convert all its planes to Boeing Co. 737s by December to cut seating capacity and reduce maintenance costs by using a single, fuel-efficient aircraft.

Skymark shares have jumped 56 percent this year compared with a 20 percent decline for both ANA and JAL.

"The new fleet should have a positive effect," said Minoru Matsuno, president of Value Search Asset Management Co., a Japanese investment advisory firm.