British Airways says hello to Osaka!
The UK's British Airways is launching direct flights to Japan’s second largest city, Osaka from next March the airline confirmed this week.
The route will be operated by one of British Airways’ newest aircraft, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, with special return fares from £599 in World Traveller, £999 in World Traveller Plus and £2499 in Club World. Starting on 31st March the carrier will fly four times each week from London Heathrow Terminal 5 and landing into Osaka’s Kansai International Airport.
The new route takes the number of daily flights between London and Japan offered as part of British Airways’ joint business with Japan Airlines up to 32 per week. British Airways is also adding four cities to that joint business agreement with the BA code being put on flights between Tokyo Haneda and Miyazaki, Kumamoto, Komatsu and Matsuyama. Japan Airlines will also offer a codeshare on the new service.
Osaka is considered to be the food capital of Japan and was recently named as the third most liveable city in the world, Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Director of Network and Alliances, said: “Our partners Japan Airlines and Finnair have demonstrated that Osaka is a hugely popular route with leisure and business travellers alike, so we are excited to launch direct flights from London, giving customers another gateway. Japan is a highly sought-after destination for British tourists and many of the country’s key attractions are within easy reach of Osaka. This new route will also open up more opportunities for companies to explore and build business in the region so we’re expecting this new service to be well received by our customers.”
Hideki Oshima, Japan Airlines’ Executive Officer International Relations and Alliances, said “We are extremely excited with the announcement of British Airways’ new route. Not only does it provide more choices and greater convenience for our passengers travelling between Japan and Europe, but it is also great news for the Kansai region. We look forward to serving our mutual customers through our codeshare service and contributing to the regional economy in Osaka.”
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| Photo Stuart Bailey |
The new route marks a welcome return to Osaka for British Airways, they last flew into the city some twenty years ago. The new service departs at 1420 from Heathrow, arriving 0950 the next morning on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The return leaves Osaka on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 1130, to arrive in London at 1550.
Photos British Airways)
