Earlier this year, Japan and the United States reached a landmark agreement, making it possible for air carriers from both countries to start daytime services between Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) and cities in the United States. These new services will begin on October 30, 2016.  Haneda is expected to become another international gateway for the Tokyo Metropolitan area, the other being Narita International Airport, which has long been the only international hub airport in the region.

 

Haneda is located approximately13 miles from downtown Tokyo and also has the largest domestic network in Japan.  The opening of Haneda daytime services should create many new business and leisure travel opportunities for passengers from both Japan and the United States.

 

JITI invited representatives from Japanese and US airline companies who will start Haneda daytime services, Japanese and US tourism agencies who play major roles in business and tourism exchange between the countries, tourism consultants and researchers, as well as academic experts who are familiar with both aviation and the tourism industry. 

 

This seminar focused on how to maximize the benefits of the new Haneda daytime services to stimulate business and travel demands between Japan and the United States, looking toward the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and beyond.