LONDON – This summer, the Japanese flag carrier will venture into the pacific region, with increasing flights on the Honolulu route, and will re-fly the Kona and Guam route after a pause of two years.
Honolulu to Japan route has always been lucrative as the route is often flown by tourists from Japan escaping the cold to Honolulu.
Honolulu or Hawaii in general has been a popular destination for Japanese vacation goers, especially since it is a family-oriented destination.
JAL has contributed to the development of Hawaii for nearly 7 decades.
The airline bridges the Island State and the Island nation and has brought in numerous economic and social benefits. Manu Japanese diaspora calls Hawaii home.
The airline has really contributed to the development of Hawaii’s tourism industry. There is such a phenomenon called the ”Mālama” concept, synonymous with preserving Hawaii’s natural beauty and promoting conservation and sustainable tourism.
John De Fries, President, and CEO of Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority say “The strong ties between Japan and Hawaiʻi go back many generations, so the return of travel between our two nations is much like welcoming family home after a long absence.”
“Mālama, or caring for our home and one another, is a value that is part of both Japanese and Hawaiian traditions that define us as island people.”
“We appreciate our long-standing relationship with Japan Airlines and look forward to working closely together for many years to come.”
This year will also mark the 55th year of the service between Tokyo and Guam. The airline has been operating the route since 1970.
President and CEO of Guam Visitors Bureau, Carl T.C. Gutierrez, “Japan Airlines have supported Guam’stourism industry for more than 50 years, and we are pleased to see their resumption of direct service in support of our recovery efforts in the Japanese market.”
“We look forward to greeting all future travelers with our warm Håfa Adai spirit and thank JAL for their continued partnership.”
Source: JAL
Kona is located on Kalaoa island, the largest island in Hawaii. It is an alternative route from Hawaii’s main airport, Honolulu, as that airport is reaching its capacity.
Honolulu from Tokyo is very lucrative, and airlines like ANA are utilizing 3 dedicated A380s for the route, and also Zip Air, a subsidiary of JAL.
Flying into Kona will give a competitive edge to JAL in terms of the Hawaiian market. In 2017, JAL reintroduced the Kona service until COVID, after 7 years of pause.
Service to Guam has also been a popular route for the airline. Guam is a U.S overseas territory and a strategic location for Washington, militarily.
Guam is also a popular destination for tourists from Japan, famed for its natural beaches and diving sites.
The return of these flights signals a rapid increase in the leisure market from Japan.
