Australia's flagship airline Qantas has announced that it will be operating flights directly from the country to Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan three times a week between December 2017 and March 2018.
The launch of the new route will mark the 70th anniversary of flight connections from Australia to Japan, which continues to become an increasingly popular destination for travellers from down under, for both leisure and business purposes.
Beginning on Thursday December 14th, a two-class Airbus A330 will fly between Sydney and Osaka three times a week, until the peak season ends on Saturday March 28th 2018. The first flights of each week will leave Sydney on Monday afternoons, arriving in Japan for the evening, while there will also be a service available on Thursdays and Saturdays.
This will be the only direct flight route for passengers between the two cities and adds to the number of options available to Australians who want to fly to Japan. Current routes include one between Sydney and Tokyo, another from Brisbane to Tokyo and a Melbourne to Tokyo service.
Fellow Australian airline Jetstar, meanwhile, offers flights between Cairns and Osaka and from the Gold Coast to Tokyo, meaning there are plenty of options for investors and businesspeople from Japan to come to Australia and vice versa.
Gareth Evans, chief executive officer of Qantas International, commented: "Australia is a highly sought-after destination for Japanese tourists, with many staying longer and spending more while they are here.
"With the Free Trade Agreement in place, the new route opens up more opportunities for companies to explore and build business in new regions, further strengthening the trade relationship between the two countries."
Discounted booking rates will be available to mark the launch of the new route, while Qantas hopes that it will encourage more people living in Australia to travel from Sydney to Japan for the upcoming 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
