Japan Airlines courted to start Miami-Tokyo flights

A direct Japan-to-Miami air route would be a “game changer” to Miami’s Japanese business community, says Kazuhiro Nakai, consul general of Japan in Miami.

Mr. Nakai said he is actively pursuing the idea with Aviation Director Ralph Cutié and Jimmy Morales, operations head for Miami-Dade County.

A recent dinner meeting with both local officials was “highly productive, as always,” Mr. Nakai said, and a series of follow-up meetings occurred.

“The Japanese business community,” Mr. Nakai says, “claims it can be a game changer of their trade and investment to Latin America.”

Japan Airlines is looking at a Boeing 787 for the flight. The Boeing 787, also known as the Dreamliner, is a mid-sized, wide body twin-engine jet airliner. It made its first flight in 2009 and its first commercial flight in 2011 with All Nippon Airways.

The jet would carry both cargo and passengers, Mr. Nakai said. As far as cargo, he said, outbound jets probably would carry spare parts and inbound flights, perishable products.

Covid eroded JAL’s business, the consul general said. “To start consideration on the direct flight,” Mr. Nakai said, “it is imperative for JAL to see enough market recovery, and to get out of the deficits caused by the Covid-19 pandemics.” JAL said it is unclear when that would occur.

Were a Japan-to-Miami flight scheduled, it is unknown whether a US airline would schedule its own Miami-to-Tokyo flight. “Reciprocity is not required in this business,” Mr. Nakai said.

“The direct flight,” Mr. Nakai added, “could drastically improve the business environment to further trade and investment with Florida, and Latin America. It is a priority agenda for me in Miami.”

The consul general said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis may lead a trade visit to Japan in October 2023. Miami-Dade County is planning its own trade mission to Japan next spring. “The direct flight is going to be an important agenda item at both meetings,” Mr. Nakai said.

The distance between Miami and Tokyo is 7,454 miles, taking about 14 hours and 39 minutes. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner-9 carries 296 passengers and has a range of 7,565 nautical miles, according to Boeing.