KAILUA-KONA — Around 10:30 Friday morning, a Japan Airlines flight landed at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, marking the airline’s return after a seven-year absence.
The airline suspended service to Kona in 2010 as part of a corporate reorganization.
Its return was cause for celebration.
State and company officials gathered at the airport Friday to welcome the first 199 passengers — a full flight, Japan Airlines reported — on the new route.
“Japan Airlines has been a partner with the state of Hawaii for more than 50 years and growing the visitor industry, being respectful of what makes Hawaii a special place,” said Gov. David Ige in remarks to the crowd at the airport. “The people, place and culture of Hawaii is what draws the visitors from Japan and they have been terrific visitors and guests here in our islands.”
Japan Airlines’ service will run daily.
Flights will leave Kona at 12:15 p.m. to arrive at 4 p.m. the following day in Tokyo. Flights inbound from Tokyo will depart Narita International Airport at 9:25 p.m. and arrive in Kona at 10:15 a.m.
The aircraft is capable of carrying 24 business class passengers and 175 passengers in economy class.
Japan Airlines Chairman Masaru Onishi told the crowd through an interpreter that the day marked the fulfillment of Japan Airlines’ promise to return to Kona after suspending service seven years ago.
“We have in this wonderful island, the Big Island, there are many wonderful natural resources and tourism resources that have yet to be discovered … by the tourists and there are also wonderful food and beverages that’s available here on this island, and we want you to enjoy this as much as we do,” he said.
Hawaii Tourism Authority chief operating officer Randy Baldemor said the influx of international arrivals to Kona is a boon for the local economy as well as to the state. It also means more visitors from Japan, he added, “who we welcome with open arms.”
Baldemore said bringing additional visitors not just to the state but also the neighbor islands is an important part of their strategy.
“And we’re so glad that this airport is opening up for international travel,” he said. “We’ve been lucky to enjoy some domestic flights coming in from the continent, but now we have the international visitors, particularly from Japan.”
Ige also told West Hawaii Today that efforts continue to bring more flights and visitors to the Big Island.
“When I’ve traveled to Japan and when the CEOs of all of the foreign airlines come to Hawaii or when I’ve had the opportunity to meet with them, they all see tremendous opportunity in travel to the neighbor islands,” Ige said. “You know, we’ve been promoting more travel to the neighbor islands for the guests who come to Hawaii because we believe it diversifies our economy.”
The governor added that Hawaii is at a point where the majority of visitors are now repeat visitors who have visited the islands before and are choosing to return.
“And having access to the neighbor islands is very important,” he added, “because people are looking for different kinds of experiences. And clearly, Kona and Hawaii Island offer tremendous diversity for our visitors.”