Qantas hopes Aussies will add Japan to their travel schedule, adding more flights to Tokyo

QANTAS’ next big play has everything to do with cherry blossoms, green tea Kit Kats and sushi.

QANTAS is expanding its presence in Japan with the launch of double daily services between Australia and Tokyo this weekend. They’re even serving ‘Japanese’ Kit-Kats to celebrate.

Flights will depart from Sydney to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport followed by the departure of a flight from Brisbane to Tokyo’s other airport, Narita, over the weekend. Qantas International chief executive Gareth Evans said the almost doubling of capacity to Tokyo marked a new era for the national carrier’s presence in Japan. “This significant capacity expansion has been extremely well-received by Qantas customers and especially by corporate travellers heading directly to downtown Tokyo, who can now save up to one-and-a-half hours on their airport commute by flying into or out of Haneda,” said Mr Evans. “Customers travelling on the new Brisbane-Narita route can explore Tokyo or beyond with popular holiday destinations across Jetstar Japan’s extensive domestic network, like Sapporo, Fukuoka and Osaka. “We’ll be working closely with our tourism partners to showcase all that Australia has to offer for the Japanese audience, and with a free-trade agreement in place we’re anticipating healthy demand for travel in both directions,” added Mr Evans. Launch celebrations will happen over the weekend with Japanese-themed activity throughout the terminal and a water cannon salute to mark the departure of QF61 from Brisbane. Traditional Japanese ceremonies will also take place at both Narita and Haneda Airports. The Qantas Brisbane-Narita flight will be operated by the airline’s refurbished A330 aircraft, with lie-flat seats in business, new economy seats and new in-flight entertainment. To celebrate the launch of the new Japan services, customers onboard flights departing to Narita and Haneda, and in Qantas international lounges in Sydney and Brisbane, will be treated to Japanese-inspired menus for the first week of August, including tuna tataki nigiri in business class and green tea-flavoured Kit Kats in premium economy and economy. Melissa Hoyer will be a guest of Qantas on the Australia-Japan leg this weekend.