insights from frontier Japan

Operation of All Nippon Airways chartered air cargo flights to exclusively transport Yubari melons produced in the city of Yubari in central Hokkaido, from New Chitose to Haneda began on June 14. The flights, which operate once a day, 4 days a week from Monday to Thursday, will continue until early August.

Hokkaido Airports Co., Ltd. (HAP, Chitose) began operation of runways and the like at 5 airports in Hokkaido – at Hakodate, Kushiro, Obihiro, Memanbetsu and Wakkanai – on March 1, as transfer integration of operations of airport buildings and the airports themselves was completed at all 7 Hokkaido airports subject to privatization.

A Boeing 767 (286-seater), the first aircraft introduced by AIRDO (Sapporo), which was used for 22 years since December 1998, completed its final flight in a round trip between New Chitose and Haneda airports on January 20.

Last year on December 24, low-cost carrier (LCC) Peach Aviation (Osaka Prefecture) commenced a New Chitose – Chubu flight that links New Chitose Airport and Central Japan International Airport (Aichi Prefecture). The flight is available daily, with two round trips per day.

As of December 21, last year, it became possible for New Chitose Airport to accept the arrival of passenger flights from China and Korea. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism judged Covid-19 virus quarantine preparations to be ready but, as use by tourists is not allowed, as of the 21st, no airlines had plans to resume services.

Services on low-cost carrier Peach Aviation’s New Chitose–Naha route began on October 25.

On August 31, low-cost carrier (LCC) Peach Aviation (Osaka Prefecture) announced a New Chitose-Naha flight with an October 25 launch date.