Zipair, a low-cost Japanese airline, is to start flying between Tokyo and San Francisco, giving Americans a more affordable way to go to one of the most popular international locations this year.
On June 2, Zipair will launch a service between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT), making it the startup's fourth U.S. location. Zipair's map already shows Los Angeles, Honolulu, and San Jose, all in California.
On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, there will be five flights per week between Tokyo and San Francisco, with prices starting at a startlingly low $352.
The Tokyo-based airline also offers a cheap $91 rate for the trip, but it only applies to kids under the age of six. Tickets are currently being sold.
The new route, according to Zipair President Shingo Nishida, will help the airline's links to the United States.
"Through our relationship with SFO, we are confident that this service will provide a valuable link for commercial and cultural exchange for our mutual customers," Nishida stated in a statement.
As a division of Japan Airlines, Zipair was established in 2018. Its operations are conducted using a fleet of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. In addition to U.S. cities, the airline also flies to Bangkok, Singapore, and Seoul, South Korea.
The pandemic prevented Zipair's operations from starting in the spring of 2020 as travel restrictions put pressure on the airline industry. Due to the epidemic, Zipair delayed beginning passenger service and only began operating cargo flights between Tokyo and Bangkok.
In December 2020, the airline launched its first U.S. route to Honolulu. The airline launched its passenger services in October 2020. Since then, Zipair has expanded operations, now operating flights from its center in Tokyo to a total of seven cities.
Japan once again became a well-liked tourist destination as each of its COVID-19 restrictions was gradually abolished. Japan first opened its doors to foreigners last summer, but only on guided tours.
Japan has welcomed independent travelers since the fall of 2022, and on May 8 it plans to remove the last of its COVID-19 border testing and vaccine requirements.
Zipair's popularity stems from both its affordable costs and its business-class seats, which might be some of the most affordable for travel to Japan. There are only three remaining lie-flat seats for $1,332 on Zipair's website for a trip to Japan on June 5.
The airline offers customers the opportunity to purchase a business-class lie-flat seat, but additional fees are required for seat selection, checked baggage, and in-flight meals. Some auxiliary benefits can also be purchased separately by travelers rather than as part of a package.
All fares come with free Wi-Fi and free bag checks for items weighing up to 15 pounds (7 kilograms).
However, if you decide on Zipair's premium bundle, which includes seat selection, inflight meals, and other amenities, you'd only be paying an extra $117, making your entire flight cost come out to $1,449 just for one way. That's a deal for business-class flights to Japan.
Also, a round-trip business-class ticket on Zipair with the same premium package comes to a total of $2,473.
Otherwise, on Google Flights, business-class journeys to Tokyo cost at least $4,000 round-trip (Zipair is also featured as the lowest alternative).
In conclusion
If you're considering visiting Japan but don't want to pay a big price tag for a ticket, these flights are worth checking out.
Japan is one of the most popular overseas destinations, and tickets to the country have been selling out, so certainly nab these Zipair flights while you can.
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