Airport News Japan

Deregulation Makes Possible Individual Purchases of International Charter Flight Tickets to Stimulate Demand

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A local airport where charter flights operate.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) announced on December 11 that it has relaxed rules for the sale of tickets on international charter flights, making it possible for individuals to purchase them.

As a general rule, international charter flights were up to now only allowed for use by tour groups, but the Civil Aviation Bureau and the Japan Tourism Agency are taking the effects of the slumping global economy and the rising yen on international tourism very seriously, and are working together to take measures with the aim of increasing the number of tourists.

Travelers can now purchase fares for any seats on routes connecting seven countries and regions. They include South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore, as well as Japanese airports implementing the Asia Gateway Initiative to liberalize the aviation industry: Kansai International Airport, Chubu International Airport, and some regional airports. Purchases on other routes will be limited to 50% of total seats.

MLIT has also simplified procedures for charter flights by air carriers from third-party countries (i.e. countries other than the point of departure or destination), making possible the operation of charter flights on routes from Narita Airport where regular international flights run.

About 6,200 international charter flights were flown from Japanese airports last year. There were many cases of travel agencies organizing the flights being unable to attract enough passengers, leaving many seats unfilled and leading to unavoidable cancellations. MLIT is aiming through this deregulation to increase the number of highly convenient charter flights and stimulate demand from Japanese travelers heading overseas, as well as from foreign visitors to Japan.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)