HILO — U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono are praising an agreement announced Thursday that will add more flights between the United States and Haneda International Airport in Tokyo.
HILO — U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono are praising an agreement announced Thursday that will add more flights between the United States and Haneda International Airport in Tokyo.
The agreement between the United States and Japan adds two new flights between Haneda and unspecified U.S. airports while converting the four existing nighttime flights into daytime flights, adding flexibility and convenience for travelers.
Hirono said she and the Hawaii Congressional delegation had spoken with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx last week and had previously written to Foxx and Secretary of State John Kerry to swiftly finalize the aviation agreement expanding access to Haneda.
“Increasing the number of flights to Haneda Airport will benefit the American economy, increase consumer choice and serve to build an even stronger link with our close ally, Japan,” Hirono said in a statement. “This agreement will provide a welcome boost to the visitor industry for Hawaii and across the country.”
Schatz also praised the agreement.
“Secretary Foxx and Secretary Kerry have worked diligently with their counterparts in Japan to find a way to provide business and leisure travelers more options to conveniently fly between Tokyo and the U.S.,” Schatz said in a statement. “Adding more options into Haneda complements Japan’s desire to expand international flights, supports consumers and aligns with U.S. tourism goals.”
It’s not yet known which airports will land the new flights, but the two senators, both Hawaii Democrats, are hopeful the latest development could translate into more flights for Hawaii. Currently, there is one direct flight between Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport and Hawaii, which flies into Honolulu.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige wants to see international commercial flights landing at Kona International Airport sooner rather than later, and he put $50 million into this year’s supplemental budget to make it happen.
The improvements will obviously benefit Hawaii Island, where the number of Japanese visitors staying only on Hawaii Island dropped 17 percent in 2014 compared to 2010, the last time Japan Airlines brought a direct flight to the island.