Japan Airlines is all set to enhance air connectivity on the Tokyo-Bengaluru route with five flights per week from late October to cater to the rising demand, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) said on Wednesday. The far-east carrier currently operates three flights a week, connecting the Silicon Valley of India with Tokyo.
BLR Airport is the only airport in Southern India to offer direct air connectivity to Japan, with Japan Airlines (JAL) being the only airline operating out of the Bangalore airport, BIAL said.
JAL operates its Boeing B787-8 aircraft on this route, which has a capacity of 186 passengers in a two-class configuration.
To accommodate the rising demand, JAL will increase its operations to five flights per week on the Tokyo-Bengaluru route, up from the current three flights per week, beginning the last week of October, the private airport operator said.
“JAL Group has chosen to expand its operations at Bangalore Airport. This strategic decision not only enhances passenger convenience and boosts regional economic growth but also strengthens our commitment to connecting Bengaluru to major global centres of commerce and tourism,” said Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Operating Officer at Bangalore International Airport Ltd.
JAL has been operating its flight services to and from Bengaluru since April 2020.
Last year, it flew 62,959 passengers, up 167.55 per cent against 23,532 passengers in 2022, reflecting strong demand for travel driven by tourism and business between South India and Japan, BIAL said.