Jetstar Japan, one of the 20 or so airlines operating flights around Japan and one of the country’s three low-cost domestic airlines, launched a new route connecting its Tokyo Narita hub with Asahikawa in Hokkaido.
Continue reading to learn more.
Jetstar Japan’s New Tokyo Narita – Asahikawa Route
On December 15, 2023, Jetstar Japan launched flights between Tokyo Narita Airport and Asahikawa, a city in Hokkaido located about two hours by car away from Sapporo. Going forward, the flights will operate daily with the following schedule:
- GK801 / Tokyo Narita – Asahikawa / 9:25AM – 11:20AM
- GK800 / Asahikawa – Tokyo Narita / 12:00PM – 1:50PM
Rather than using the main type in its fleet, the A320-200, on the inaugural, Jetstar Japan used one of its A321LRs. Given that these aircraft are at some point meant to operate medium-haul flights for Jetstar Japan, they are more comfortable than the A320-200s.
The Jetstar Japan A321LRs are equipped with 238 economy class seats in a 3-3 configuration and offer plenty of legroom. Each seat is also equipped with a smartphone/tablet holder and a USB charging port.
Unfortunately for passengers, Jetstar Japan plans to start deploying its A320-200s on the route starting from tomorrow. These aircraft are equipped with 180 seats in a 3-3 layout and offer limited legroom.
Asahikawa is Jetstar Japan’s 16th domestic destination.
Asahikawa’s First Domestic Low-Cost Connection
While Asahikawa Airport already has an international low-cost connection in the form of Tigerair’s flights to Taipei, until today, it lacked a domestic low-cost connection. Part of the reason is the city’s proximity to Hokkaido’s largest city, Sapporo, which has plenty of low-cost flights not only to Tokyo but elsewhere in Japan too.
In fact, all three Japanese domestic low-cost airlines – Jetstar Japan, Peach, and Spring Japan – operated flights between Sapporo New Chitose Airport and Tokyo Narita.
Additionally, Jetstar Japan and Peach operate flights from Sapporo New Chitose Airport to Osaka Kansai. Peach serves Fukuoka, Nagoya Chubu, Naha, and Sendai out of the airport too.
Even though Jetstar Japan’s route is the first one between Tokyo Narita and Asahikawa, there have already been multiple flights each day to the city from Tokyo Haneda.
The Tokyo Haneda – Asahikawa route is operated by JAL using a mix of 737-700s and 767-300ERs and Air Do using 767-300ERs. The Air Do flights are also sold as ANA flights.
Summary
Jetstar Japan launched a new domestic route. Starting from today, the airline connects Tokyo Narita Airport with Asahikawa Airport in the north of Japan. While the destination was already served by JAL and Air Do from Tokyo Haneda, this is the first time for Asahikawa to be served by domestic low-cost flights.
It will be interesting to see how the flights perform given the limited (one a day) frequency and Asahikawa’s proximity to Sapporo New Chitose Airport which already has multiple daily low-cost flights to Tokyo.
