Travelers heading out
of Houston will soon have a new option for flying to the Japanese
capital when budget carrier Zipair, a subsidiary of Japan
Airlines, initiates its new route with introductory one-way fares as low as
$333.
The new flights, connecting
Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Tokyo’s Narita International
Airport, will operate four times a week—on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and
Sundays—starting in March 2025. The roughly 14-hour journey will operate using
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, which are equipped with 18 lie-flat business class
seats and 272 economy seats.
Zipair’s limited-time
promotional fare pricing for this route is highly competitive compared to other
airlines operating the Houston-Tokyo route, such as United
Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) whose basic one-way tickets for March
2025 start at $595. And, prices go up rapidly after that, according to Travel
+ Leisure.
“The launch of our
service from Houston, Texas, will offer a convenient, low-cost option to travel
between the U.S. and Asia. We
are committed to providing our valued customers more flexibility to travel on
international flights and believe this service will be successful due to the
extensive airport connectivity featured at both George Bush
Intercontinental and Tokyo Narita. We look forward to welcoming new and
seasoned travelers to take advantage of our fully customizable travel
experience, including complimentary Wi-Fi service,” Shingo Nishida,
President of Zipair Tokyo, said in an announcement.
“We welcome Zipair
to Houston, as it reflects our city’s prominence on the global stage,” said
Houston Mayor John Whitmire. “The new route between Houston and Tokyo will
strengthen our business ties with Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific region. It
will also bring more visitors to experience Houston’s vibrant culture,
world-class healthcare and diverse industries.”
“This new
partnership with Zipair aligns perfectly with the mission of Houston Airports
to connect the people, businesses, cultures and economies of the world to
Houston,” said Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports. “By
adding more airline partners like ZIPAIR, we’re responding to growing passenger
demand for international travel options. This new route to Tokyo not only
strengthens our global connectivity but also offers travelers more flexibility
and affordability, ensuring Houston remains a premier gateway for global
travel.”
Houston will be
the fifth U.S. city in Zipair’s growing transpacific network, joining Honolulu,
Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose. Travelers can also continue their
journeys beyond Tokyo, as Zipair provides onward connections to other Asian
destinations, such as Bangkok and Singapore.
Though the new Houston-Tokyo
service won’t be ready for this year’s holiday trips, like Christmas or New Year’s,
it will be perfectly timed for travelers
looking to experience Tokyo’s famed cherry blossom season firsthand in the
spring.
The limited-time promotional
pricing of as low as $333 each way for Zipair’s Standard Value Seat tickets
will be available now through November 30, 2024, via the airline’s official website.
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