Jetstar Asia, the Qantas Group low-cost airline based in Singapore, has announced that it will be restarting flights to the subtropical island of Okinawa, a popular tourist destination in Japan, following a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first flight on the route is scheduled to depart on 30th November 2023, and will operate from the carrier’s new base of operations at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4. These flights will be operated three times per week, meaning travellers will be able to visit the island for a variety of trip durations from as little as two days.
Prior to COVID-19, Jetstar was the sole operator of flights from Singapore to Okinawa, and the airline’s return is no doubt a reflection of the pent-up demand for travel to Japan, following initial border reopening in October 2022, followed by a complete removal of vaccination and testing requirements in April 2023.
The news comes as Singapore Airlines announced a significant boost to its own Japan flights this upcoming winter season, from 62% of pre-COVID capacity today to 95% by March 2024.
Singapore – Okinawa schedule
Jetstar will re-launch flights to Okinawa three times weekly from 30th November 2023, as shown in the following schedule.
Singapore Okinawa
From 30th November 2023
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
3K791 A320 |
||||||||
| SIN 02:00 |
OKA 08:10 |
||||||||
|
3K792 A320 |
||||||||
| OKA 09:10 |
SIN 13:30 |
||||||||
Overnight service from Singapore to Okinawa takes 5 hours 10 minutes, while a morning flight in the return direction takes 5 hours 20 minutes. Flights will use 180-seat Airbus A320 aircraft.
This closely mirrors the airline’s inaugural Okinawa schedule in November 2017.
Jetstar hiked its Singapore – Okinawa flights to four times weekly from November 2018 and then five times weekly from October 2019, but these additional frequencies are not being replicated with this initial return to the route from November 2023.
Jetstar’s last flight to and from Okinawa was on 22nd March 2020, with the route then suspended as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.
The Singapore – Okinawa service is being supported by the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
“Okinawa has always been an incredibly popular destination and we know our customers can’t wait for us to resume this service.
Barathan Pasupathi, CEO, Jetstar Asia
“The island boasts unrivalled beauty, with its pristine white beaches, stunning coral reefs, amazing cuisine and rich culture, offering something for everyone – whether you want to relax on the beach or have an adventure-packed holiday.
“Our amazing low-fares mean Singaporeans will be able to spend more while on holiday, taking advantage of everything the island has to offer and we thank the Okinawa Prefecture Government and Japan National Tourism Organization for their support of the new route.”
Japan’s southern subtropical island attracted 10.2 million domestic and international tourists in 2019, but this total plunged during the COVID-19 pandemic, as strict border controls came into place.
“With the resumption of this direct flight, I am confident that we will see a vibrant increase in tourism and economic exchange with Okinawa, the nearest part of Japan from Singapore.
Heat Ikehara, OPG
“We are also looking forward to more visitors from beyond Singapore to Okinawa by leveraging on Jetstar’s extensive connections via Singapore, ASEAN and the Oceania region.”
The newly reinstated flight will also give passengers a low-cost one-stop option between Singapore and Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, thanks to sister carrier Jetstar Japan’s domestic network from Okinawa, with a total of 48 weekly flights currently in operation on those three domestic routes.
This will allow travellers a two-centre option, potentially including both a city and beach destination in a single Japan trip.
One-way fares on the reinstated route are being offered from S$159 from today until 16th July, or S$154 for Club Jetstar members, for travel between 30th November 2023 and 21st May 2024.
While that applies to the Singapore – Okinawa direction, we also saw one-way fares from Okinawa to Singapore from as low as S$111 for Club Jetstar members, or S$116 for regular customers, based on travel in January 2024, allowing a round-trip from as low as S$275.
Osaka also makes a comeback
Jetstar has also announced today that it will reinstate Singapore to Osaka flights via Manila in the Philippines, a route it last served in March 2020.
Prior to the pandemic, Jetstar Asia was operating 22 flights per week between Singapore and Osaka via Taipei, Manila and Clark, but initially only a five times weekly link is being reinstated, as shown below.
Singapore Osaka
From 24th November 2023
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
3K763 A320 |
||||||||
| SIN 02:15 |
MNL 05:55 |
||||||||
|
3K763 A320 |
||||||||
| MNL 06:55 |
KIX 11:35 |
||||||||
|
3K764 A320 |
||||||||
| KIX 13:20 |
MNL 16:40 |
||||||||
|
3K764 A320 |
||||||||
| MNL 17:40 |
SIN 21:20 |
||||||||
This service, also using Airbus A320 aircraft, will increase to daily from 30th December 2023, and operates in addition to the carrier’s existing 14 times weekly Singapore – Manila – Singapore flights.
While it’s possible to fly all the way from Singapore to Osaka on this one-stop service, Jetstar taps “fifth freedom” traffic rights between Manila and Osaka, so it primarily caters for Philippines – Japan traffic, with Lion City residents typically preferring one of the non-stop options offered by Singapore Airlines and Scoot.
Summary
Singapore residents get a new non-stop holiday destination from November this year, with Jetstar’s return to the subtropical holiday island of Okinawa in Japan, starting with three times weekly flights.
Jetstar will once again be the sole carrier on this route, with one-way fares on the five-hour flights starting at S$159 for travel between late November 2023 and mid-May 2024.
The airline will also reinstate its Singapore – Manila – Osaka route in late November this year, though that one primarily caters to the Philippines – Japan market since it involves a transit stop for those flying all the way to or from Changi.
(Cover Photo: PANUMAS PIX / Shutterstock)