Airport News Japan

“Triangle” of Routes Connects Domestic Airports in Tokyo, Seoul & Shanghai - Non-Charter Commercial Flights Starting Oct.

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An aircraft of a Chinese airline taxis at Haneda.

Rregular charter commercial flights are flying to Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing on international routes from Haneda Airport at present, but those to Seoul and Shanghai are landing at primarily domestic airports (Gimpo and Hongqiao) that are nearer each city’s downtown area than their respective international airports. This convenient access makes them popular among travelers taking day trips and those traveling under time constraints.

Gimpo Airport is about 17 km from Seoul, while Incheon Airport is 50 km. Likewise, Hongqiao is about 15 km from downtown Shanghai, while Pudong Airport is 30 km away. In Tokyo as well, Haneda Airport is 15 km from downtown, while Narita Airport is 60 km. In many cases, the time required for ground travel from a domestic airport to downtown is less than half that required for the same city’s main international airport.

A passenger on the routes commented that whichever city one travel’s to, “They clearly make for more efficient business and itineraries.” Since there are also international commercial routes between Seoul’s Gimpo Airport and Shanghai’s Hongquiao Airport, the three routes connecting them and each to Haneda Airport is called the “East Asia Business Triangle” by some travelers.

The flights on the “Triangle Routes” consistently fill a high percentage of seats. After Haneda Airport internationalizes this October, there are plans to upgrade the two routes to the airports for regular, non-charter commercial flights.

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