Hong Kong Airlines adds Kumamoto, Japan to its network

Hong Kong, Oct. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Commencing on 14 December, Hong Kong Airlines will be the first and only carrier providing direct link between Hong Kong and Kumamoto, Japan. The new route will be operated by an all-economy class Airbus A320 aircraft. Hong Kong Airlines will launch twice-weekly flight service to Kumamoto, running on every Monday and Friday, and further strengthen the airline's network in Japan.

Situated in the central Kyushu of south-western Japan, Kumamoto is becoming a popular destination in Japan among travellers with the rise of "Kumamon", the official black bear mascot of the prefecture. Since its introduction, "Kumamon" has received wide attention throughout the world and has become the most well-known mascot representative for Japan. Moreover, Kumamoto is one of the largest suppliers of high-quality and fresh agricultural and marine products for the country, such as tangerines, watermelons, melons, tomatoes and snappers. The prefecture is also introducing new species and enhancing seed selection technology to produce high-quality agricultural products, such as "Dekopon" (mandarin orange with a large protruding bump on the top), Higo eggplant and new black ox species. Kumamoto is the leading exporter in the country with the highest volume of such products.

Kumamoto has a historical "Kumamoto Castle" which has over 400 years of history, and it is also one of the top three renowned castles within Japan. The famous "Mount Aso", one of the world's largest active volcanoes, offers an abundance of natural attractions for visiting the region. Benefitted from the volcanoes, there are plenty hot springs in Kumamoto, including the popular tourist attraction "Kurokawa Onsen" that allows you to take a comfortable and relaxing bath surrounded by silence and nature. Other must-sees in Kumamoto include the "Amakusa-Gokyo" (five bridges), historic sites with tragic stories of Christian martyrs, and scenic sites and a saw-toothed coast in the Amakusa district, plus the Hitoyoshi and Kuma area with abundant historical sites from the 12th   to 14th centuries.

Mr. Li Dianchun, Commercial Director of Hong Kong Airlines said, "To cater for the growing market demand, we are delighted to introduce another new service to Kyushu following the inaugural of Miyazaki route earlier this year. Kumamoto will be the fifth destination adding to our Japan network, covering Okinawa, Sapporo, Kagoshima and Miyazaki. We believe the new service will strengthen our network in Asia and further boost our presence in Japan. This will also offer passengers more diverse options for business and leisure travel."

The flight schedule for Kumamoto route is as follows (*All Times Local):

* Flight number and schedule are subject to approval and may change without prior notice. 

With the launch of Kumamoto service, complemented by the existing two daily flights to Okinawa, five-time weekly service to Sapporo, thrice-weekly service to Kagoshima and twice-weekly flights to Miyazaki, Hong Kong Airlines will operate a total of 26 weekly flights between Hong Kong and Japan starting from December this year, further strengthening its route network.

Kumamoto is becoming a popular destination in Japan among travellers with the rise of “Kumamon”, the official black bear mascot of the prefecture. Moreover, Kumamoto is one of the largest suppliers of high-quality and fresh agricultural and marine products for the country, as well as the leading exporter in the country with the highest volume of such products.

The famous “Mount Aso”, one of the world's largest active volcanoes, offers an abundance of natural attractions for visiting the region.

Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20140317/0861401583-b
Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20151027/0861510308-a
Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20151027/0861510308-b

About PR Newswire PR Newswire is the premier global provider of news release distribution and multimedia platforms that enable marketers, public relations officers and investor relations professionals to engage with their key audiences: businesses and consumers, the media, and investors.