insights from frontier Japan

Yamaura Teiichi (56), a Japan Airlines captain originally from Otaru in central Hokkaido who currently resides in Hyogo Prefecture, has been making announcements in the Hokkaido dialect on flights to and from Hokkaido, becoming a topic of conversation among passengers and aviation fans. Inspired by a conversation at a class reunion, he began making these unique announcements three years ago. He hopes that his announcements will remind passengers of their hometown and help stir a feeling of excitement toward traveling in Hokkaido.

Major Scandinavian airline, Finnair has agreed on the principle of resuming regular passenger flights on the New Chitose–Helsinki, Finland route next spring, provided that Japan's border measures – such as quarantining at home when entering Japan – will be relaxed in future. Flights on international routes in and out of Hokkaido have been suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic since April last year, and this is the first time moves to resume regular flights have been revealed.

All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.’s Airbus A380 (520 seats), the world’s largest double-decker passenger aircraft took-off and landed at New Chitose Airport for the first time on September 19, during a sightseeing flight. The livery of the aircraft, which is approx. 73 m long and 80 m wide, is designed in the image of a sea turtle, and is known fondly as ‘Flying Honu’ (flying sea turtle). Approximately 370 passengers enjoyed the one-and-a-half-hour flight over Hokkaido, while many aircraft enthusiasts gathered at the airport to see it.

Services on the low-cost carrier (LCC) Peach Aviation’s Memanbetsu–Kansai route began on July 1.

Japanese regional airlines Airdo Co. and Solaseed Air Inc. said Monday they will set up a holding company in October 2022 to reduce costs through joint aircraft maintenance and procurement of supplies.