Japan Transocean Air (JTA) launched its Osaka/Itami–Okinawa/Naha route today, October 25.
The airline will operate two round trips per day using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This marks its return to Itami Airport after 19 years, following the Osaka/Itami–Ishigaki–Miyako–Osaka/Itami route, which operated from 2003 to 2007.
Including flights operated by Japan Airlines (JAL), the route will be served by up to six round trips per day during the winter schedule period. Meanwhile, flights on the Osaka/Kansai–Okinawa/Naha route will be reduced from three daily round trips to one.
The inaugural flight was operated by the Jinbei Jet, a Boeing 737-800 (registration JA05RK). Flight NU264 departed Okinawa/Naha at 11:34 a.m. with five crew members and 98 passengers, arriving at Osaka/Itami at 1:26 p.m. The return flight, NU265, departed at 2:21 p.m. with five crew members and 157 passengers. Commemorative gifts, including boarding certificates, were distributed at the departure of NU265, while 30 group employees saw off the flight with a banner.
As part of its efforts to strengthen long-haul domestic services to and from Osaka/Itami, JAL also began year-round operations on the Osaka/Itami–Asahikawa route on the same day. It will launch the Osaka/Itami–Obihiro route on December 1 and make the Osaka/Itami–Memanbetsu route a year-round service from February 1, 2027, further strengthening its network.
