Airlines hope China route gives lift

The start of regular daily charter flights between Tokyo's Haneda airport and Beijing in October has raised expectations that the route will prove lucrative for airlines in the future.

Crack the market: From left, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cui Tiankai, Parliamentary Secretary for Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Tourism Takashi Nagayasu, All Nippon Airways President Shinichiro Ito and Japan Airlines President Haruka Nishimatsu celebrate the opening of a charter flight route between Haneda airport and Beijing airport Oct. 25 at a "kagami-biraki" ceremony at Haneda airport. KYODO PHOTO

The inauguration of flights took place amid sluggish demand for air services but Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara's remarks that he wants Haneda airport to serve as an international hub is generating a favorable wind.

A full Japan Airlines flight departed from Haneda on Oct. 25 for the less than four-hour flight, bringing Japan and China closer to passengers flying on business.

"China and South Korea have become an extension of domestic business trips. I am not personally happy but a trip to China on business will likely become a one-day or overnight trip at most," said Koichi Nonomura, 57, said.

A 39-year-old businessman, whose company runs factories in China, said the new air service makes it possible for him "to actually see a person face to face instead of holding a telephone or video conference."

"It took me more than three hours to get to Narita (International Airport in Chiba Prefecture)," said Li Dong, a 30-year-old company employee in the Tokyo suburb of Fuchu. "It's convenient to return home from Haneda."

China posted an 8.9 percent rise in gross domestic product during the July-September quarter over the same period last year, as its economy recovers faster than other countries from the financial crisis.

An average monthly total of about 250,000 passengers flew between the two nations aboard Japanese jetliners during last fiscal year, indicating the Haneda-Beijing route could become a top earner hereafter.

All is not problem-free at Haneda, however.

It is cramped, though it is upgrading its international terminal pending the opening of its fourth runway next October. Its lobby for international flights was crowded the day the inaugural flight left for Beijing.

A 48-year-old employee of an information technology firm said congestion at the terminal is awful. "I get the impression that officials must decided to open the China route before the improvement in facilities is completed.

"Since I live in Chiba Prefecture, I will split my use of Narita and Haneda 50-50 until next October," he added.

A 39-year-old Japanese housewife who lives in Beijing said she hopes JAL and All Nippon Airways will operate flights that arrive in Tokyo from Beijing before noon. Noting that the flights of both companies return at night, she said, "I cannot do anything the night I arrive in Tokyo."

A regular Sino-Japanese air route originally opened in 1974 but was shifted from Tokyo to Narita in 1978. Efforts were made — but failed — to reopen the Haneda-Beijing route in time for the Beijing Olympic Games last year. The Japanese and Chinese governments agreed last spring to operate daily flights by JAL, ANA and Air China by using slots for chartered planes at Haneda.

The number of Japanese passenger departures to China last year totaled about 3.45 million, while about 1 million Chinese visited Japan.