Japan’s ANA to launch Narita-Manila flights Feb. 27

Japan’s All Nippon Airways is launching its inaugural Narita-Manila flight this Feb. 27, the Philippine Department of Tourism said Wednesday on its website. The new service bridging Narita and Manila is going to help Philippines catch a larger share of Japanese travelers, said Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim. "We are confident that the direct link, complimented by efforts of the JATA intermediaries, will stimulate stronger traffic from this major source market," Lim said in a statement. The airline also called ANA will also ferry officials of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), including its chair, Akira Kanai, during its inaugural flight to Manila. JATA is a big group of travel and tour operators, hotel and transportation operators, as well as academic and legal institutions, of which ANA is also a member. Japan is the Philippines’ third largest tourist market that in the 2010-2009 period grew 10.39 percent to 358,744 visitors. Four airlines with a combined 61 flights a week are currently serving the Japan-Philippines route, including 32 flights by Philippine Airlines (PAL), 14 by Japan Airlines, 12 by Delta Air Lines, and three by Cebu Pacific. The weekly flights have a combined seating capacity of 18,071. After the inaugural flight, ANA will service its Narita-Manila route with daily flights starting March 2011. — VS, GMANews.TV