Shandong Airlines (SC) expects to launch a thrice weekly Qingdao-Tokyo Narita service on September 3, 2012. The addition extends SC's network to a second Japanese destination after Osaka.
Flights, utilising a B738, depart from Qingdao Airport on Monday, Thursday and Friday at 0830 to land in Tokyo’s Narita International Airport at 1220. The return leg, on the same day, departs the Japanese hub at 1320 for a 1550 arrival in Qingdao.
According to an airline spokesperson, increased demand from both business and leisure travellers in China and Japan spurred the birth of this service. With Japanese corporations steadily setting up a presence along the Qingdao coast, traffic has been on the rise. A China Daily report has identified Japan as one of Qingdao's largest trading partners with over 1,700 Japanese companies in the area.
On the Chinese side, Chongxian Ma, president and CEO of Shandong Airlines, said Japan has proven to be one of the airline’s most popular destinations.
Geographical proximity between Qingdao and Tokyo also makes Tokyo a convenient destination for SC to expand its network, the airline spokeperson added.
For more information, visit www.shandongair.com.cn/en.
Michelle Fong