A Japanese chartered Boeing 747-400 landed yesterday, July 8, at Stockholm-Arlanda. Japan Airlines International (JAL) is flying between Japan and Stockholm-Arlanda Airport this summer. This will initially be a brief test series of charter flights for Japanese tourists, but LFV has hopes of a permanent non-stop route.
To the Japanese, Stockholm is a destination that is combined with other parts of the Nordic countries, but also with Central Europe and Russia. They visit Stockholm primarily to experience the beauty of this city on the water and its role as a leading design centre.
“The Japanese market is a relatively large foreign market, considering the long distance and the lack of non-stop flights to Stockholm,” says Peter Lindqvist, Acting CEO of the Stockholm Visitors Board.
During 2007, Japanese visitors accounted for 64,396 commercial overnight stays in Stockholm County. Given more non-stop flights, there is potential to increase the number of Japanese visitors in Stockholm. Together with LFV, the State enterprise that operates Sweden’s major airports, the Stockholm Visitors Board and Visit Sweden have been working to attract more non-stop flights from Asia to Stockholm.
“We have long had the ambition to establish a non-stop air route between Sweden and Japan, and it is heartening that Japan Airlines sees this need and this market. This year there will be a brief test series, but we are already pursuing discussions on a continuation next year. A non-stop route to Japan will be important to Sweden and the Swedes and will also increase the potential for inbound business and visitor traffic from Japan,” says Mats Sigurdson, Director of Aviation Marketing at LFV.
This Japanese charter service to Sweden is one element of JAL’s expansion plans for non-stop charter flights to international destinations. The flights are from the cities of Kagoshima, Nagasaki and Kumamoto on the island of Kyushu in southern Japan, as well as from Chitose outside Sapporo in northern Japan.
According to a statement from JTB Corporation, many Japanese feel that Scandinavia is far away but that on a charter flight they can get here both more conveniently and quickly than if they have to change aircraft.
JAL is flying to Stockholm-Arlanda using Boeing 747-400 aircraft seating 356 passengers. JAL is Japan’s largest airline. Its summer charter service is in collaboration with Japan Travel Bureau (JTB), one of the country’s largest tour operators.
For more information, please contact:
Peter Lindqvist, Acting CEO, Stockholm Visitors Board, tel. 08-508 28 550
Mats Sigurdson, Director Aviation Marketing, LFV, 08-797 86 01
Ann-Charlotte Jönsson, Press Manager, Stockholm Visitors Board,
08-508 28 507
JAL is operating charter flights between Japan and Stockholm-Arlanda as follows:
July 8: Kagoshima - Nagasaki - Stockholm Arlanda
July 21: Kumamoto - Chitose - Stockholm Arlanda