COURTESY STATE OF HAWAII
Water cannons greeted Japan Airlines’ flight from Tokyo’s Narita International Airport to Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport on Friday.
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Japan Airlines landed in Kona on Friday for the first time following a seven-year absence.
The new daily service from Narita International Airport in Tokyo is expected to generate $9.8 million in tax revenue and create
900 new jobs, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
JAL’s 199-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft and passengers were greeted at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport by a festive celebration and a host of dignitaries, including Gov. David Ige.
“We warmly welcome
Japan Airlines back to Kona,” Ige said in a statement. “We are extremely excited about the daily service to Kona, which is on its way to becoming Hawaii’s second major international port of entry. JAL has offered excellent service to the Aloha State for more than 60 years, and has played a significant role in expanding and supporting our tourism industry and economy.”
JAL, which also has six daily nonstop flights between Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Honolulu, had not served Hawaii island since October 2010 when it pulled out in conjunction with the company’s government-
backed bankruptcy restructuring. JAL previously had offered the daily flight between Narita and Hawaii island since June 1996.
In December, Hawaiian Airlines gave the island a boost when it was the first to restore service between
Japan and the Big Island with flights three times a week between Kona and Haneda International Airport in Tokyo.
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono said the renewed service from Tokyo to Kona will further strengthen Hawaii island’s visitor industry and economy.
“I welcome the return of Japan Airlines to Kona,”
Hirono said in a statement. “Hawaii’s deep ties with
Japan and today’s flight helps to grow our state’s visitor industry and economy. The reopening of the (customs) facility at Kona International Airport (following its 2010 closure) provides another opportunity to expand the island of
Hawaii’s international visitor market.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reopened a temporary Federal Inspection Services facility in December ahead of Hawaiian Airlines’ inaugural flight from Haneda to Kona.
