China’s three largest airlines will be increasing their presence at Tokyo Narita airport, with new route launches and increased frequencies.
China Eastern Airlines will launch Kunming-Tokyo Narita flights on 18 February. The Skyteam carrier will operate the route four times weekly with its Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 787-9.
It has launched three new flights to the Japanese capital since the start of the year. On 2, 4 and 5 January, it began flights from Yantai, Wuhan and Qingdao respectively. These flights are operated by the airline’s 737-800s and A320s.
Cirium’s schedules data shows that China Eastern will be the only carrier flying from Kunming and Yantai. On Wuhan-Tokyo Narita, it competes with All Nippon Airways (ANA), China Southern Airlines, as well as low-cost carrier Spring Japan. On Qingdao-Tokyo Narita, the carrier competes with ANA.
Separately, Air China will commence operations from Hangzhou on 10 January. The flights, operated four times a week, will be flown with the Star Alliance carrier’s A321s.
Schedules data reveals that ANA is the only other carrier operating the route.
China Southern will also recommence flights between its Guangzhou hub and Tokyo Narita. The four-times weekly service will be operated with 737-800s and commences 10 January.
A Narita Airport release indicates China Southern last operated the route four years ago.
Besides Guangzhou, the carrier also serves nine other Chinese cities: Zhengzhou, Changchun, Changsha, Dalian, Harbin, Shenyang, Wuhan, Shanghai Pudong, as well as Shenzhen.
On Guangzhou-Tokyo Narita, China Southern competes with ANA, which operates daily flights.
