JAL to launch Daily Flights between Haneda and Hongqiao

JAL is to launch a daily service between Haneda Airport, Tokyo and Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai from September 29, 2007.

The  new JAL route will provide customers traveling between the city centers of Tokyo and Shanghai with even greater convenience. Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) is located only 13 kilometers away from Shanghai’s city center, and central Tokyo can be reached in just under 30 minutes from Haneda (HND).

Initially, the airline will operate a B767 on the new route, but from October 28 it will be replaced by a 747-400 to meet expected increases in passenger demand.

The new service will be launched exactly 35 years to the day after diplomatic ties between Japan and China were normalized on September 29, 1972. The resumption of diplomatic ties paved the way for JAL to start operating its first flights to Beijing and Shanghai in September 1974.

JAL currently offers 5 flights a day between Narita International Airport, Tokyo (NRT) and Pudong International Airport, Shanghai (PVG). This includes a daily JAL code share flight operated by China Eastern Airlines. Flight frequency between the two cities will therefore increase to 6 flights per week once the new Haneda – Hongqiao service is inaugurated.

At present, JAL serves 12 cities in China on 29 routes with a total of 287 flights per week, including code shares. From September 29, 2007 the network will increase to 30 routes and 294 flights per week.

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