Yesterday, Japan eased its entry and epidemic prevention measures, attracting many Hong Kong people to rush to Japan to “drink their heads and eat soup”. The bustling scene of the past has reappeared at the departure hall of Hong Kong Airport yesterday, and there were crowds at the airline counters and boarding gates for flights to Japan. Some Hong Kong tourists to Japan bluntly said that they had not traveled for three years and were very excited. HK Express (Hong Kong Express) said that it is gradually dispatching additional flights. It is expected that by the end of March next year, there will be regarding 460 flights per week as a whole, which is a return to the level before the epidemic.
Photo: Li Ruizhe
On the first day of customs clearance in Japan, Hong Kong Airport had 8 direct flights to Japan yesterday, heading to Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka respectively. The bustling scene of the past was revived at the departure hall of Hong Kong Airport yesterday. There were long queues at the airline counters with flights to Japan and the boarding gates in the restricted area. As for the airport stores that many passengers “excited before departure” in the past, most of them have not opened their gates as of 9:00 a.m. yesterday.
The implementation of “0+3” measures will not affect work
Ms. Chen and Mr. Yan, who set off yesterday, said that they spent regarding 19,000 yuan to buy air tickets last week, but they felt that the fare was still acceptable. Because “the holiday is approaching the end of the year,” they chose to set off yesterday. They pointed out that this trip to Japan is mainly for tourism, and the budget is regarding 30,000 yuan for local consumption. They also pointed out that following the implementation of the “0+3” measures, they can go to work immediately following returning to Hong Kong, and they are not worried that the isolation measures will affect their work.
Another visitor to Japan, Miss Wan, said that she had waited for three years and had been looking forward to it for a long time. Her first stop in Osaka will go to Kuromon Market to eat seafood and sashimi, and she will also go to Shinsaibashi to buy medicine and cosmetics, “Because I haven’t eaten local authentic and fresh seafood or sashimi in Japan for a long time, I miss these very much. food.”
Wu Jiewen, CEO of HK Express, said that this month, it operates regarding 50 flights to Japan every week, and will resume flights to Okinawa and Nagoya later. During the peak tourist season in December, there are 260 flights per week between Hong Kong and various destinations in Asia. The number of Japanese flights will increase to 120, and the Tokyo Haneda Airport route will be resumed; by the end of March next year, the overall weekly flights will further increase to regarding 460, which is regarding the level before the epidemic.
Regarding HK Express’ earlier cancellation of multiple flights from January 15 next year, she apologized to the affected passengers, saying that she is contacting passengers to provide solutions, including arranging “same-day and same-point” flights without additional charges, and is processing the cancellation of flights , The case of full refund is believed to be completed within this week.
Originally published on AM730 https://www.am730.com.hk/local/airport to Japan counters reappear with crowds-Hong Kong Express-flights return to pre-epidemic levels in March next year/342485?utm_source=yahoorss&utm_medium=referral
