In a boost for travel to Japan, Qantas will recommence flights between Brisbane and Tokyo – but with a significant difference.
Set to launch ahead of the busy summer holiday season, the new Qantas flights will operate between Brisbane Airport and Haneda Airport, and not Narita International, where Qantas’ Brisbane-Tokyo flights had previously operated.
The move will save travellers more than an hour of commuting within Tokyo, as Haneda is located much closer to the centre of the city.
The flying kangaroo will utilise its Airbus A330 aircraft on the route, offering 1,700 weekly seats including business suites and lie-flat beds.
The three-times weekly service will depart Brisbane on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
Qantas Regional General Manager for Asia John Simeone said Japan had been one of the most popular destinations for Australian travellers pre-Covid, “and we’re seeing the demand for Tokyo bounce back strongly”.
“The new flight from Brisbane into Haneda Airport gives our customers much easier and faster access to downtown Tokyo and one of the world’s most important business markets, saving more than an hour of transit time in getting to the city,” he remarked.
“Qantas has a long history of serving the Japanese market and in fact later this month we’ll be celebrating 75 years of flying between Australia and Japan.
“We’re pleased to build on this legacy by connecting Japanese travellers to the Sunshine State once again.”
Two-way tourism boost
Brisbane Airport Corporation chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff said the announcement represented “a milestone day for BNE”.
“We are delighted to see the return of flights between Tokyo and Brisbane Airport, boosting one of Queensland’s most important tourism markets,” he stated.
“These Qantas services will bring more visitors, students on working holidays and business travellers to Brisbane, while generating valuable opportunities for Queensland exporters.”
The new service is backed by Queensland’s $200 million Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, which was created to help boost tourism to the Sunshine State.
“Every year, Qantas direct from Haneda will land 46,460 seats in Brisbane and deliver more opportunities for Japanese visitors to enjoy Queensland’s great lifestyle,” Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said.
“We know Japanese visitors love our iconic, world-class visitor experiences and with return travel becoming much easier, we’re excited to welcome travellers from Japan back to the Queensland sunshine.
“Before the pandemic, Japan was one Queensland tourism’s top five nations for overseas holiday arrivals and visitor spending.”
Last week, Qantas announced an upgrade in its profit forecast for the first half of the financial year 2023.
Read our review of Qantas’ Sydney to Noumea service.
Visit qantas.com.au or its trade site for more information.
