Tokyo’s Haneda airport opens routes with Singapore

Tokyo’s secondary airport at Haneda is to allow Singapore Airlines to operate a route from Changi Airport, while JetStar Asia is also seeking to fly there. Singapore Airlines will launch a twice-daily service in October next year, alongside the current twice daily flights to Tokyo’s main airport at Narita. Meanwhile, Jetstar Asia chief executive Chong Phit Lian has confirmed to Singapore media that the low-cost carrier has applied to fly twice daily to Haneda using a wide-bodied A330. Japan’s expensive operational and landing costs have so far prohibited the budget segment from developing strongly in that market. The move comes after the new Japanese government floated the controversial idea of opening up Haneda to more international traffic and making it Japan’s second international hub after Narita. Next year, a fourth runway will open allowing Haneda to substantially increase its capacity. See our previous story here. Haneda’s more central location makes it an attractive proposition for regional business travellers, who otherwise face a transfer of up to two hours from airport to city centre. Haneda currently operates several flights between regional business hubs such as Shanghai and Seoul but predominantly handles domestic traffic. For further details see, www.singaporeair.com and www.jetstar.com Kenny Coyle