Japan and China agreed on further liberalizing their markets, and the sky is the limit.
According to Japan’s transportation ministry, both countries agreed on an “open sky policy” – a step away from previous restrictions on routes and number of flights. The deal will expand flight exchanges, including new routes and increased number of direct flights. Japan claims the deal will boost economic growth, particularly through tourism and business trips. China is the third largest market for Japan, with air passenger traffic reaching 7.94 million in fiscal 2010.
The Asahi Shimbun reported that new routes are set up, such as flights from Chubu and Kansai airports to Guangzhou, Dalian and Chengdu. Other international airports – Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda airports and China’s Beijing airport and Pudong airport – will increase daily round trips from four to eight by March 2014. Japanese low-cost airlines – Peach Aviation Ltd., Jetstar Japan Co. and AirAsia Japan Co. – said they are also considering new routes to China.
