JAL to Launch Kona to Tokyo Daily Non-Stop Route

Japan Airlines launches daily service between Kona International Airport at Keahole and Tokyo’s Narita International Airport on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017.

Japan Airlines. PC: JAL Instagram

The flights will utilize JAL’s fully-revamped Sky Suite Boeing 767-300ER planes.

The new service is an addition to JAL’s six current non-stop flights between Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Honolulu.

The new route is expected to result in about $84.2 million in visitor expenditures, and about $9.8 million in state tax revenue, according to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. The service will also support about 900 jobs on Hawaiʻi Island.

During the announcement in June, Governor David Ige said he is excited about the new daily service to Kona, which he said is well on its way to becoming Hawai‘i’s second major international port of entry.

Friday’s launch includes a blessing and Maile Lei ceremony at the JAL counter in Kona at 9 a.m.; followed by a water canon salute for the inbound aircraft at 10:15 a.m.; and send-off of the departing flight set to leave at 11:15 a.m.