Qantas has launched new direct seasonal flights between Sydney and Osaka’s Kansai International Airport in response to the boom in travel between Australia and Japan, and the industry is hailing it a game-changer for tourism.

From 14 December 2017 until 24 March 2018, Qantas will operate three flights per week using its upgraded two-class Airbus A330 aircraft.

Tourism Australia’s Managing Director John O’Sullivan said, “Whilst this is a seasonal service, Australian tourism will be a beneficiary of a direct, non-stop service from another key Japanese city.

“Qantas has contributed significantly to the remarkable resurgence in visitation we’ve seen from Japan in recent years, with the additional capacity they’ve put into the market helping drive increased demand for Australia.”

Tourism Research Australia’s International Visitor Survey showed for the year ending March 2017, Japanese visitors contributed $1.7 billion to the economy, up 13 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) said the new route will help our tourism business “capitalise” on the major market.

“Qantas has moved quickly to recognise the growing demand from Japan, once one of our key international markets, and which has grown by 18 per cent in visitor numbers in the past 12 months,” ATEC Managing Director, Peter Shelley said.

“These flights will be a great support to the export tourism industry and will help us to capitalise on a market that is re-engaging with Australia after a long period of stagnation.

“As an island destination, Australia is dependent on its air capacity and Qantas has made a positive move in recognition of the strong place we once held on the Japanese visitor’s bucket list.

Shelley added that back in 1992, Japan accounted for “almost a quarter of Australia’s inbound market” and claimed “almost six per cent” of all Japanese overseas travellers.

“With the support of these new Qantas flights, Australia is well positioned to rebuild its share of this important market,” he concluded.

The route – which will be the only direct flight between the two cities – adds to the airline’s Sydney-Tokyo (Haneda), Brisbane-Tokyo (Narita) and Melbourne-Tokyo (Narita) services providing options for triangular itineraries, and complements Jetstar’s Cairns-Osaka service. Jetstar also flies from Cairns and the Gold Coast to Tokyo (Narita).

Cooking takoyaki, a popular, delicious snack of Japan

Qantas’ Sydney-Osaka service will connect to its large domestic and trans-Tasman networks and Jetstar Japan’s extensive domestic network, providing good onward travel opportunities at both ends of the new route.

Qantas International CEO Gareth Evans said the addition of Osaka to the Qantas network offers another gateway for customers travelling to Japan.

“Our commitment to the Japanese market is reflective of the strength of this growth, which we are very well placed to support with the largest Australia-Japan network, the largest domestic network in Australia, and the largest low-cost domestic network across Japan through Jetstar Japan,” Evans said.

“Australia is a highly sought-after destination for Japanese tourists with many staying longer and spending more while they are here.

“And with the Free Trade Agreement in place, the new route opens up more opportunities for companies to explore and build business in new regions, further strengthening the trade relationship between the two countries.

“For Australian travellers, this service will appeal to those looking to explore the historic Kansai region and the surrounding areas. And with a number of exciting events being hosted in Japan in coming years, including the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we are expecting to see travel between the two countries grow well into the future.”

Qantas is offering special launch fares, with all-inclusive Sydney to Osaka return Economy tickets starting from $699 for travel between 14 December-31 December 2017 / 8 January-24 March 2018, and all-inclusive Sydney to Osaka return Business tickets starting from $3,499 for travel between 14 December 2017–24 March 2018. Sale ends 11.59pm, 4 August 2017.