AirAsia Starts Flights to Okinawa
Japan fans will be thrilled to know that AirAsia is starting flights to Okinawa, making the tropical island in the south of Japan the airline’s sixth destination.
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. |
Over the years, Okinawa has been one of the desired holiday destinations for many Malaysians and Southeast Asians. With AirAsia opening up this direct route, many will have the opportunity to explore this beautiful Japanese tropical paradise, a dream come true.
A four-time weekly flight schedule to Okinawa via Taipei gives travellers options for travel dates that make planning easier. However, the scheduled flight only commenced on January 22nd, 2020, but flight bookings can be made from the airline’s 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, the inaugural AirAsia flight D7 384 landed at Naha Airport on January 22, 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, with AirAsia providing over 150,000 visitor seats annually.
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
On arrival at Naha International Airport, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki greeted the VIPs onboard the inaugural flight.
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. |
Transit at Taipei International Airport
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, passengers may return to their seats after clearing a quick security check of their carry-on bags and inflight belongings.
This also means they are not allowed to exit the Taipei airport; they can remain only in the transit area. However, creative travellers who want to kill two birds with one stone can book their Taipei trip and then their 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?
Most travellers ask this question, and the answer is 8.5 hours. This, of course, includes your transit time in Taipei, which is about one hour. You must factor in around 12 hours of travel, transit, and flight time. That means you need at least two hours before check-in from the time you travel from home to the airport.
The flight is at 7:35 a.m., meaning you must be at KLIA2 at about 5:30 a.m. Travelling to KLIA2 takes around one hour, so you must leave your home at 4:30 or 4:00 a.m. to be safe. Getting up from bed, preparing, finalizing checks, and waiting for your ride-hailing or taxi means you must be up at about 2:00 or 3:00 a.m.
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 |
Where is Okinawa?
Okinawa Island is one of Japan’s 47 prefectures, comprising 160 islands in the East China Sea. It is also quite close to Taiwan. Before AirAsia flew to Okinawa, the only other way to get there 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 Okinawa. Some local travel agents even sell special charter flights to Okinawa. This has long been a popular holiday destination for the Japanese. 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 planning to visit one of Japan’s most beautiful islands.
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.
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