Japan fans will be thrilled to know that AirAsia is starting flights to Okinawa in Japan, making the tropical island in the south of Japan the sixth Japanese destination for the airline.
The news of the Okinawa flights with AirAsia was announced on the 30th of November 2019. The four times weekly flights will commence on the 22nd of January 2020 via Taipei, Taiwan, and land at Naha Airport, which is only 4 kilometres from Naha City.
AirAsia Flights to Okinawa
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| One of the beautiful scenes at Okinawa. |
Okinawa has always been one of the desired holiday destinations for many Malaysians and also Southeast Asians over the years.
With AirAsia opening up this direct route, many will have the opportunity to explore this beautiful Japanese tropical paradise, a dream come true.
Four times weekly flight schedule to Okinawa via Taipei provides travellers with options on travel dates that make it easier to plan.
However, the scheduled flight only commenced on the 22nd of January 2020, but flight bookings can be made from the airlines' website.
Apart from Okinawa, AirAsia also flies to five other Japanese cities: Narita and Haneda in Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Nagoya (via Bangkok).
For the official press release of this flight, AirAsia Malaysia CEO Benyamin Ismail had this to say;
“Our rapid expansion into Japan continues following the launch of services to Fukuoka and Tokyo Narita earlier this year.
Okinawa is an island paradise that offers a different Japanese experience for leisure travellers, including white sandy beaches with clear blue waters, some of the world’s most famous diving spots and unique Ryukyuan cuisine.
“Like Fukuoka, we are building the foundation for more AirAsia flights to serve Okinawa in the near future, strengthening our regional network and allowing more travellers to discover the unique cultural heritage of this amazing destination.”Update: 22 Jan 2020 - AirAsia Flight Lands in Okinawa
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| The VIP delegates arrive in Okinawa on 22 Jan 2020. |
Just to add that the inaugural AirAsia flight D7 384 landed at Naha Airport on the 22nd of January 2020, marking the airline’s maiden flight to Okinawa, Japan.
This also marks the beginning of a unique low-cost passageway connecting Okinawa with East and Southeast Asia by providing over 150,000 visitor seats annually with AirAsia.
Onboard the Okinawa maiden flight was;
- Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia YB Tuan Muhammad Bakhtiar bin Wan Chik
- AirAsia X Chairman Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz
- AirAsia X Board of Director Dato’ Fam Lee Ee
- AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail
The VIPs who were onboard the inaugural flight were greeted by Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki at Naha Airport on arrival at Naha International Airport.
Price of AirAsia Flights to Okinawa
BIG Members can purchase fares from Kuala Lumpur to Okinawa Naha starting from RM239 one-way on standard seats and RM899 one-way on the award-winning Premium Flatbeds.
This promotion starts on 31 October 2019 at 12:00 pm (GMT+8) and until 2 November 2019 for travel between 22 January 2020 and 27 March 2020.
For more booking information, please visit the AirAsia website.
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| One of the beautiful beaches on Okinawa Island. |
The good news is that travellers from Kuala Lumpur to Okinawa are not required to obtain a Taiwan visa during their one-hour, fifteen-minute stopover in Taipei.
After the transit, they may return to their seats after clearing a quick security check of their carry-on bags and inflight belongings.
This also means you are not allowed to exit the Taipei airport but remain only in the transit area.
However, those creative travellers who want to kill two birds with one stone can do so by booking your Taipei trip and then your Okinawa connecting flight the following day or days later.
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| The AirAsia flight schedule to Okinawa. |
How Long Does It Take To Fly From Kuala Lumpur to Okinawa?
This is a common question by most travellers, and the answer is 8.5 hours. This, of course, includes your transit time in Taipei for about one hour.
You must factor in around 12 hours of travel, transit and flight time. Meaning from the time you travel from home to the airport, you need at least two hours before check-in.
The flight is 7.35 am in the morning, meaning you must be at KLIA2 at about 5.30 am. Travelling to KLIA2 requires around one hour, so you must leave your home at 4.30 am or 4.00 am to be safe.
Getting up from bed, preparing, final checking and waiting for your ride-hailing or taxi means you must be up at about 2.00 am or 3.00 am.
You will undoubtedly end up taking a nice morning nap along the journey to Taipei.
This is also best done after your in-flight breakfast on AirAsia, so add that Santai meal when you book your flight tickets.
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| Map showing where Okinawa Island is located at |
Okinawa Island is one of Japan’s 47 prefectures comprising 160 islands in the East China Sea. It is also located quite close to Taiwan.
Before AirAsia flew to Okinawa, the only other way to get here was via Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing, and a few Japanese cities.
There were no direct flights from Malaysia, and many had to take connecting flights to get to Okinawa. There are even some local travel agents that sell special charter flights to Okinawa.
Okinawa has long been a popular holiday destination for the Japanese. At the same time, its subtropical climate reminds many travellers of Hawaii, complete with coral-fringed waters and a very relaxed way of life.
Conclusion
Many thought that this flight route would never materialize, and surprisingly, even for me, the news came out just before the end of 2019.
This simply means that many Malaysians and Southeast Asians can now start making plans to visit one of the most beautiful islands that Japan has to offer.
With the news that AirAsia is starting flights to Okinawa, many will likely plan to book their dream tropical vacation on this beautiful Japanese island.