Japan Airlines Anchorage Station Head Shigeo Yoshino announced that Japan Airlines successfully operated the
first of three non-stop winter charter flights directly to Fairbanks from Tokyo's Narita International Airport.
Early on the morning of December 29, 2004 a Japan Airlines Boeing 747-400 configured to accommodate 292 passengers arrived in Fairbanks
from Japan in a flying time of approximately six and one-half hours. The sold-out flight carried Japanese visitors here to view the
aurora borealis and celebrate the New Year. On board the inaugural flight were the airline's President Katsuo Haneda and his wife Teiko,
who took a private New Year trip.
The visitors spent four nights in the Fairbanks North Star Borough and returned to Narita on the sixth day as they crossed the
International Dateline. JAL International is operating three direct flights this winter with the support of JAL Sales Division which has
worked directly with Japanese wholesalers and tour operators to fill the seats. According to Japanese government regulations, passenger
charter flights are only allowed to operate by offering “package” tours which include airfare, ground transport, and accommodations.
Several different Japanese travel agencies collaborated with tour operators to finalize the itineraries for these charters.
Programs differ slightly but a typical four night itinerary for a Japanese visitor generally includes tours to local hot springs and
winter sports such as skiing, dog mushing, and snow-machining. The main attraction however, is the opportunity to view the aurora
borealis. Interior Alaska's location and climate makes it one of the world's best places to view the aurora. Dr. Syun Akasofu, Director
of the International Arctic Research Center and noted aurora expert will be giving free lectures explaining the aurora in Japanese as a
special event co-sponsored by Pioneer Park for the JAL flights.
The FCVB estimates that around 7,000 Japanese now currently visit Fairbanks between September and April. This figure is down from
pre-9/11 when Japanese visitation fell dramatically in the wake of terrorist attacks in the United States. Colin Lawrence, Tourism
Manager at the FCVB stated, “Fairbanks has long been a winter destination for Japanese tours to Alaska, but these flights will definitely
be a big boost for winter tourism in the Interior. At the FCVB, we do not refer to winter as the off-season but rather as the
opportunity season.”
“We are very pleased with the consumer interest in these flights,” said Shigeo Yoshino with Japan Airlines. “The New Years flight sold
out in just over a month and both February flights are now full as well. We have offered summer charters for the past two years to
Anchorage but this is the first time a charter flight to Alaska has sold out.” JAL plans to operate more charter flights to Fairbanks
in the summer of 2005 pending government approval, and will announce details in the New Year. |
