Delta Air Lines is to launch expanded nonstop services from Japan to two popular leisure destinations – Honolulu and the Pacific island of Palau.
The airline has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requesting permission to start new nonstop service between its Tokyo-Narita hub and the Pacific island of Palau. The proposed flights would operate four-times weekly beginning in December and would be the only scheduled nonstop service between Japan and Palau.
Palau, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean that lies 800 km east of the Philippines and 3,200 km south of Tokyo, is a popular scuba diving destination. In addition to divers, the island has been attracting tourists interested in its well-preserved natural environment. Nearly 30,000 Japanese tourists visit Palau each year.
Delta currently operates flights from Nagoya to Detroit, Guam, Saipan and Manila, as well as connecting flights to 10 U.S. gateways via Tokyo-Narita.
The airline will also begin new daily services between Nagoya, Japan, and Honolulu on 22 December 2010, subject to government approval. The flight will be operated with 216-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, with 35 BusinessElite seats and 181 seats in Economy.
Delta also plans to begin operating nonstop service between Haneda Airport in central Tokyo and Detroit and Los Angeles, pending final approval by the U.S. DOT.
© Japan Today
8 Comments
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paulinusa
Love tropical paradises and have never been to Palau, but do know someone who scuba dived there and described it as a wondrous place. A nonstop flight for this hard to get to island is huge. Any of you in Japan should jump at this chance.
The758
I would have thought Continental would fly this route
paulinusa
The758: I believe Continental services Palau from Guam or Hawaii. But that's from the U.S. So maybe it doesn't work for them from Japan, whatever the reason.
nath
This is excellent news! I have been to Palau and what you have heard about these islands is 100% true. The diving is out of this world. The only way to get there from Japan now is via Continental via Guam which is expensive and a pain. Time for me to go back and dive "Blue Corner" again.
Danny Bloom
You can get there from Taipei easily. Wonderful diving. But oops, the local beach boys are gonna have their hands full soon with the Japanese Bali girls changing routes.....
twinring
Great, cant think of a better way to screw up Palau's delicate reefs and eco system by allowing more people access to Palau. When all the high rise hotels are completed so will begin the end of all the brain coral heads and the blue starfish and the grazing areas for the manatee, just as Guam fell victim to "tourism"
gogogo
YES! I would love to go there direct from Japan... sort it out please :)
CHAMADE
UH OH. THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD.