Japan Airlines to Launch New NYC-Tokyo Route this Spring

Japan Airlines announced Thursday that it will add nonstop daily service between New York and Tokyo beginning this spring in a move designed to "enhance customer convenience."

Launching April 1, 2017, the new route will travel between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Tokyo's Haneda Airport and will join the carrier's existing route between JFK and nearby Narita International Airport.

Haneda, which is about an hour's drive away from Narita, is closer to downtown Tokyo. Therefore, the new route is likely to be a hit with international travelers hoping to cut down on their travel time to one of Asia's premier destinations.

Once service begins in April, the airline will operate one daily round-trip flight on a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

In order to open up a slot at Haneda and make the new route possible, Japan Airlines shifted its Honolulu-Haneda route to Narita.

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In addition to the new route, the carrier will add more seats to its existing daily evening flight from Narita to JFK by switching to the aforementioned 777-300ER aircraft, which boasts 244 seats compared to the 161 currently available onboard the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner the airline uses now.

The switch to the 777-300ERs will also make eight first class seats available on the two routes.

The airline also announced Thursday that it plans to ramp up service between Narita and Moscow, Russia, as well as between Narita and Honolulu amid increased demand.

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