Intl. Flights Using Japanese Airports More Than Triple At The Start Of Winter
International flights using Japanese airports have more than tripled at the start of winter from the same period last year. This follows the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
The transport ministry says 1,920 international round-trip flights had been scheduled to use airports in Japan during the first week of the winter season that began last Sunday. That's 3.2 times the figure for the same period last year.
The number of flights by Japanese carriers roughly doubled, and flights by South Korean and Taiwanese airlines were about 20 times last year's figure. Officials attribute the increases to the easing of COVID-related border restrictions.
International flights have been slower to recover than domestic flights, which have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
But, overseas flights have been increasing since Japan lifted the cap on arrivals and the ban on individual travelers on October 11.
All Nippon Airways says the number of international passengers since Sunday was about six times the figure for the same period last year.
The airline has increased the number of international check-in counters at Tokyo's Haneda Airport from 24 to 48. It says it sometimes needs extra staff to deal with the long lines of customers.
A manager of the firm's airport service subsidiary, Noguchi Hiroshi, said he feels that the increase in foreign travelers will help to revitalize Japan's economy, as many of them head to regional cities.
He added that his company will be able to cope with the growing tourist demand, while placing priority on safety, and through effective use of personnel amid staff shortages.
Flights between Japan and China have yet to fully resume because Beijing is maintaining strict border controls. This is one reason why the total number of international flights using Japanese airports remains at 37 percent of pre-pandemic levels.