Japan Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary Zipair has announced plans for a new route between Tokyo and Sinagpore this autumn.

Flights will launch on September 7, initially with a weekly Tuesday service although it’s understood this will increase to twice weekly from late October.

Flight ZG53 will depart Tokyo Narita at 1400, arriving into Singapore’s Changi airport at 2025, with the return leg ZG54 leaving Changi at 2155 and landing back into the Japanese capital at 0605 the following day.

The Zipair brand was launched in 2019, and had been due to commence scheduled services in the summer of 2020.

The onset of Covid-19 led to the carrier initially launching as a cargo-only service from Tokyo to Bangkok and Seoul, but passenger flights have since commenced to Bangkok, Seoul and Honolulu.

Commenting on the Singapore service, Shingo Nishida, president of Zipair Tokyo, said:

“We are pleased to announce that Zipair is expanding our international network this September and will feature scheduled service to Singapore as our fourth destination. Singapore is not only known as a global financial and logistics hub in Southeast Asia, but also an attractive city featuring a multi-ethnic culture.”

“As the impact of Covid-19 continues, we believe that the best way to contribute to society today is to transport cargo and support the global supply chain using our Boeing 787 aircraft, while continuing to prepare for the day we can welcome back customers to travel freely between various countries and continents.

“Zipair has implemented key measures against Covid-19 and is prepared to provide safe and secure flights, which includes the distribution of our Zipair Care Kit and have applied an anti-viral and anti-bacterial coating throughout the cabin to protect our valued customers.”

“Due to the impact of Covid-19, restrictions on entry into both countries are still in effect, but we hope that our new service to Singapore will provide a new convenient option for those who need to travel to and from Japan for business or pleasure.”

zipairtokyo.com