Airport News Japan

Skymark Opens 3 Domestic Routes out of Chubu Int'l - First Flights to Haneda in 29 Years

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Skymark's Boeing B737-800s.

On February 1, Skymark Airlines Inc., based at 1 Haneda Airport, Ohta Ward, Tokyo, opened three domestic routes out of Chubu International Airport (also known as "Centrair") in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture.

Previously, only All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (ANA) and Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (JAL) have operated domestic flights at the airport, but now Skymark's routes will offer connections to New Chitose, Ibaraki and Haneda. Each will offer daily round-trip flights on Boeing 737-800s with a capacity of 177 passengers.

The Haneda route will reopen a connection between the Nagoya and Tokyo metropolitan areas with a regular commercial flight for the first time in 29 years. The flight is scheduled for an 11:40 p.m. departure from Chubu, after the last Shinkansen (high-speed rail commonly known as the "bullet train") departs for Tokyo, and arrives at Haneda at 11:55 p.m.

With the introduction of late-night flights to Chubu International Airport, the passenger terminal's hours have been extended from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The change was announced in January on the airport's Japanese website with a message titled "To Travelers Visiting the Airport after 11 PM." Information was also posted on late-night business hours for stores and services, transportation and more.

Skymark has stated that it intends to make Chubu one of its major hubs as it develops its business and is considering opening routes to Naha and elsewhere.

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