Virgin won’t delay new Brisbane-Tokyo route

Virgin Australia has doubled down on its commitment to launching a new Brisbane to Tokyo Haneda airport route on 29 March, despite the coronavirus crisis.

However, while the airline won’t delay its debut, it has announced it will not be organising media trips or special presentations for the opening.

Many have worried that opening a new route to a country with a presence of coronavirus cases would be a bad move, but Virgin Australia is confident the route will still be popular.

ANA’s first 787 lands at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on September 27 at the end of its delivery flight from Everett. (Boeing) — ANA’s first 787 lands at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport

Japan has recorded 364 cases of coronavirus and six deaths.

Virgin Australia chief executive Paul Scurrah said the flights were “a real milestone both for Virgin Australia and Queensland, as we become the first airline to connect Brisbane to the closest and most convenient airport in Tokyo”.

This marks the first time an Aussie carrier has had a direct flight from Brisbane to the more central Haneda airport, with Qantas currently only offering flights from Brisbane to Tokyo Narita.

The airline will operate a morning flight from Brisbane and an overnight flight from Tokyo. It will fly its Airbus A330-200 on its Brisbane-Haneda route.

Comments (3)

Tim The Tool Man

March 7, 2020 at 1:49 am

Typical Virgin move. Stupid.

Mike

March 9, 2020 at 7:39 pm

Your article doesn’t mention the planned frequency of this new Virgin Australia route.
While VA might receive praise for trying, I seriously wonder if it is indeed a wise time to start this new service? Qantas has reduced their previously daily Japan schedules due to low demand. With uncertainty all around the world right now has the VA management forgotten the company’s failed Johannesburg and Hong Kong services?