Chinese airlines to launch more air routes to Japan

HARBIN - More air routes linking China with Japan will be launched over the next few months to cater to an upsurge of Chinese travelers during the coming summer holidays.

China's budget carrier Spring Airlines announced a new air link between Harbin, capital city of northeastern Heilongjiang province, and Nagoya, Japan, on June 29.

It is the first direct air route linking the city with the central area of Japan. The three-hour flight will fly every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, according to the airline.

In addition, China's Xiamen Airlines said Sunday that it will open a direct air link between Fuzhou, capital city of East China's Fujian province, with Japan's Osaka.

The Boeing 738 flight will operate every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday beginning July 16, the airline said.

The airline will also open a round-trip flight to connect Xiamen, where the company is based, with Tokyo in August.

In the first half of this year, Japan became a popular tourist destination for Chinese. The popularity is expected to continue in the coming summer holidays, said Mao Yi, head of the publicity department of Spring Airlines.

Last year, more than 2.4 million Chinese tourists visited Japan, a substantial increase from previous years.