Jetstar Asia resumes direct flights to Okinawa after 3 years

Jetstar Asia has resumed direct flights to Okinawa, more than three and a half years after its last flight to the popular tourist destination in south Japan. The first resumed flight – on a sold-out Airbus A320 – took off on Nov 30 from Changi Airport at 2.18am and arrived at Naha Airport at around 8.30am (Japan time), the low-cost carrier announced on the same day. Jetstar Asia, which is the only airline to operate direct flights from Singapore to Okinawa, had paused such flights in March 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. But in July, it announced the route would return, citing strong demand. Jetstar Asia will operate three return services a week, which can carry some 1,000 passengers between Singapore and Okinawa every week, or over 54,000 in a year. The direct flight to Okinawa – which is just over six hours long – is the second Japanese route Jetstar Asia has resumed. The first was to Osaka, which relaunched a week earlier, the carrier added. Jetstar Asia’s CEO Barathan Pasupathi said: “From its pristine beaches and delicious food to its unique cultural experiences, Okinawa caters to those seeking both relaxation and adventure.<br/>