Miyakojima’s first ever international route to connect Shimoji-shima in Okinawa and Hong Kong, set to make three rounds trips per week, expected to carry 28,000 people per year
https://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/entry-879019.html
February 22, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
Hong Kong Express, a Hong Kong-based low cost carrier (LCC) announced February 21 that they would begin flying direct between the new Miyako Shimoji-shima international terminal in Miyakojima City, scheduled to open March 30, and Hong Kong three times per week starting July 19.
This is the first such international route for the Miyakojima region.
The route is expected to service around 28,000 people annually.
The company also began selling tickets the same day to go along with the formal announcement.
Until 12:59 a.m. on February 25, they will be selling tickets for flights between July 19 and October 26 at a special one-way fare of 2,280 yen.
On the new route, the carrier will fly a 180-passenger Airbus A320.
The flights are planned to depart every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.
The flights are expected to increase demand at the local resorts from travelers from Hong Kong and other countries, and will allow local residents an easy path to traveling abroad.
Hong Kong Express has a history of success with flights to destinations within Okinawa such as Ishigaki. They have been dubbed one of the 10 safest LCCs in the world by airline research groups.
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki commented on the new route, “I am very happy by the news. From now, we will work with Hong Kong Express as well as other involved in the project to invite many people to the Miyakojima region from Hong Kong and other places in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Another LCC, Jetstar Japan, will also be launching a domestic route between the new airport and Narita to coincide with the terminals opening March 30.
There are also plans for route with Korean Air Lines (KAL) as well as charter flights.
Okinawa Prefecture, the Okinawa Tourism and Convention Bureau, Miyakojima City, the airport facility construction company Mitsubishi Estate, and Shimoji-shima Airport Management, who will be operating the airport, continue working at enticing more airlines to run routes through the new airport.
(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)
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