The number of air seats to the islands is expected to climb 1 percent in the fourth quarter, on pace to reach more than 9.28 million seats in 2011, the Hawaii Tourism Authority said Tuesday.

An increase in airlift from Asia will more than offset a 3 percent drop in seats from the mainland in the fourth quarter as U.S. carriers seek to control rising fuel prices, according to HTA’s Airline Seat Capacity Outlook Report.

Airlift from Japan is expected to rise 3.4 percent because of year-over-year air service increases from Hawaiian Airlines, China Airlines and All Nippon Airways.

"The increases in air seats shows that Japan is recovering after the devastating earthquake and tsunami, and we are extremely pleased that they are returning to Hawaii," HTA President and CEO Mike McCartney said in a statement. "Japan is a very important market to our tourism economy."

In addition, airlift from Korea and China will nearly double — 92.3 percent — as a result of new or increased flights by Asiana Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Korean Air and China Eastern Airlines.

Meanwhile, air capacity from Canada is projected to rise 6.6 percent, while Oceania will boost airlift 27.1 percent. Increased international capacity will offset 0.8 percent and 17.9 percent declines in service from major market areas from the U.S. West and U.S. East, respectively.