Free Domestic Flights Across Japan

Image via Vaani Sai

Japan’s hygienic environment and tourist craze have reached a drastic influx in the past six months, with airlines selling out flights and increasing interest from many travelers. As the tourism industry continues to take off, a projected sixty million people are estimated to have visited the country by 2030. Due to many tourists visiting popular attractions in Japan’s most famous cities–Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka–Japan Airlines is introducing a new offer: free domestic flights for international travelers.

While it may seem like a perfect package at first glance, it’s crucial to consider the details that are involved with this package. Japan Airlines introduced this deal with the intent of increasing popularity in lesser-known cities. As such, customers must purchase a round-trip international flight before applying for the program in order to qualify for the deal. Additionally, only a select few countries are eligible for this deal, limiting the number of recipients.

Larger, more popular countries are included in this package, restricting smaller ones in order to maintain profit and regulate their airlines’ losses. Moreover, flights from Japan Airlines will select a smaller, lesser-known city as the destination to increase tourist interaction. Similarly, through this package, tourists are restricted to a maximum of 24 hours in major hub cities such as Kyoto or Tokyo, otherwise, a $100 fee will be applied.

Japan’s government is eager to revolutionize their tourism, thus leveling the tourist interaction to many other cities in Japan. By offering free fights, Japan Airlines strives to redirect visitors to a few of the country’s other gems.

In partnership with Nippon Airways, a similar promotion offers free domestic flights across Japan to passengers who book international travel with them. With over forty destinations across Japan, Nippon Airways competes with Japan Airlines, providing more options to tourists at inexpensive prices.