Queensland is gearing up for an influx of new visitors from Japan just in time for the summer holidays with the return of Qantas flights between Brisbane and Tokyo.
The Flights between Brisbane and Tokyo establishes the first direct connection by any airline, replacing Qantas’ former service to Narita Airport, and will save travellers more than an hour commuting into Tokyo city on arrival.
Inbound flights on the route are timed to connect well with the rest of Qantas’ Australian domestic network, including popular destinations across Queensland, reopening tourism opportunities for the Sunshine State.
Qantas Regional General Manager for Asia, John Simeone, said the flights will boost tourism and revive business opportunities between Australia and Japan.
The resumption of Brisbane-Tokyo flights also provides Australian producers in the region with more cargo space on Qantas’ freight network for the export of fresh produce such as chilled meat, seafood, dairy, fruit and vegetables.
Qantas’ direct flight from Tokyo Haneda to Brisbane is supported by Queensland’s $200 million Attracting Aviation Investment Fund in partnership with the State’s four international airports.
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Japan was an important part of Queensland’s recovery plan for inbound international tourism.
Qantas will fly its Airbus A330 aircraft, with Business Suites and lie-flat beds, from Brisbane to Tokyo three days per week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, offering more than 1,700 seats on the route each week.
The Qantas Group operates more than 20 return flights per week from Australia to Japan. This includes Qantas’ flights from Brisbane to Tokyo Haneda and Sydney to Tokyo Haneda.
Qantas flights between Melbourne and Tokyo Haneda will resume in March 2023. The Group’s low-fares airline, Jetstar, operates flights from Cairns to Tokyo Narita and Osaka, and Gold Coast to Tokyo Narita.
Customers travelling to other destinations across Japan can connect through Haneda to domestic services operated by Qantas’ partner JAL.
A HISTORY OF QANTAS IN JAPAN
1920 W.H Fysh and P.J McGinness establish Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services, abbreviated to Qantas.
1947 On 18 December, Qantas’ inaugural flight to Japan arrives in Hofu in Yamaguchi from Sydney carrying six passengers and 1,200 pounds of mail. The flight takes 27 hours and 21 minutes from Sydney using a Lancastrian aircraft.
1948 Qantas starts to operate a service to Haneda.
1952 Qantas starts to operate a twice weekly service between Tokyo and Sydney.
1959 Lockheed Electra operates between Tokyo and Sydney taking 18 hours 51 minutes.
1961 Qantas introduces a weekly service between Tokyo and Sydney on a Boeing 707-138B. Travelling time was reduced to 13 hours 51 minutes.
1967 Company name changes from Qantas Empire Airways to Qantas Airways Limited.
1973 Qantas commences a non-stop service between Tokyo and Sydney on a new Boeing 707-338.
1978 Tokyo New International Airport (Narita) opens. Qantas moves its base in Japan from Haneda to Narita.
1987 Qantas adds Nagoya to the network.
1994 Osaka Kansai airport opens on 4 September. Qantas commences Kansai-Brisbane-Sydney services five times per week. The inaugural flight to Kansai was operated by Boeing 747-400 Wunala Dreaming.
2015 Qantas launches two new services between Japan and Australia on 1 August: between Haneda and Sydney, and Narita and Brisbane.
2016 Qantas launches a new service between Narita and Melbourne on 16 December.
2017 Qantas launches a new service between Osaka and Sydney on 14 December.
2017 Qantas celebrates 70 years of flying between Australia and Japan on 18 December.
2019 Qantas launches new seasonal flights to Sapporo.
2022 Qantas launches new flights between Brisbane and Haneda.
