AirTrip signs deal to acquire Habit Pilates, with franchise development collaboration planned

AirTrip announced on 9 November 2026 that it had signed a share transfer agreement to acquire shares in Habit Pilates and make it a consolidated subsidiary. Habit Pilates operates small-group equipment-based Pilates studios and also acts as a franchisor. This is AirTrip’s second beauty-sector franchise deal, following SPEED spring, the operator behind the BUPURA facial contouring salon franchise. The group plans to bring the two franchisors together on franchise recruitment and staff training, despite their different services.

Habit Pilates has 12 studios, including planned openings

Based in Shibuya, Tokyo, Habit Pilates has a network of 12 studios, including planned openings, mainly in Tokyo. Its representative director is Satoshi Babasaki, and its share capital is ¥3 million. Alongside operating studios, the company runs a franchise business.

Its service centres on equipment-based Pilates classes for groups of up to five people. This semi-private format aims to combine the accessibility of group classes with the attentive instruction of one-to-one sessions.

The figure of 12 studios does not mean that all are currently trading: it includes future openings. Prospective franchisees assessing the scale of the business should distinguish between operating studios and those being prepared for launch. Nor does this total reveal the split between company-owned and franchised locations.

The announcement concerns an agreement to bring this studio operator and franchisor into AirTrip’s consolidated group. Signing the share transfer agreement should be distinguished from implementing support measures for individual franchisees.

A second beauty-sector franchise deal after BUPURA

In March 2026, AirTrip made SPEED spring, which franchises the BUPURA facial contouring salon brand, a consolidated subsidiary. Habit Pilates is positioned as its second beauty-sector franchise deal.

Reports dated 9 November put BUPURA’s franchise network at 274 salons. Habit Pilates’ figure of 12 studios, however, includes planned openings, so the two figures are not directly comparable. It would be inappropriate simply to add them together as a total of operating franchise outlets, or to compare their operating structures on outlet numbers alone.

The significance of the deal lies not just in the number of brands, but also in the plan to share franchise management expertise developed at BUPURA with another service business. Facial contouring salons and equipment-based Pilates studios offer different services, but AirTrip says it intends to coordinate franchisor functions such as franchise recruitment, staff training and support for new openings.

For Japan’s franchise sector, this is an example of a corporate group with an existing brand bringing another franchisor into its portfolio. However, the agreement should not be taken as confirmation of how individual franchise terms or operating arrangements will change.

Cross-referrals, staff training and funding support planned

Planned initiatives include referring customers between the businesses, sharing expertise in franchise recruitment and staff training, and providing funding support for new openings. These measures aim both to broaden customer reach and to help franchisees launch and run their businesses.

Cross-referrals concern collaboration on customers, while sharing franchise recruitment expertise is intended to help reach prospective franchisees. Staff training and funding support relate to opening and operating outlets. The plans therefore cover several franchisor responsibilities rather than a single customer acquisition initiative.

These are, however, future measures. The announcement does not claim that they have already improved franchisees’ sales, recruitment or openings. On funding in particular, prospective franchisees should distinguish between the stated intention to provide support and the terms of any scheme they can actually access.

Key questions for prospective franchisees are which support measures would apply to their proposed studio, when they would become available, and what costs and conditions would apply. A group-wide policy should not be treated as equivalent to support guaranteed under an individual franchise agreement.

Acquisition price undisclosed; limited impact on current-year earnings expected

AirTrip expects the deal to have only a minor impact on its financial results for the current financial year. The announcement did not disclose the share acquisition price. It is therefore not possible to assess the size of the investment by reference to that price, or to infer short-term earnings growth from the agreement alone.

At this stage, the principal confirmed developments are the share transfer agreement intended to make Habit Pilates a consolidated subsidiary and the plan for collaboration between businesses, including BUPURA. Attention will now turn to how the proposed sharing of expertise and funding support are translated into practical arrangements for franchisees.

Practical points for prospective franchisees: Do not base a decision solely on the acquisition announcement. Establish separately how many studios are trading and how many are planned, and ask the franchisor about eligibility, start dates, costs and conditions for training, customer referrals and funding support.