Travellers looking to fly from Vancouver to Tokyo with Zipair can find multiple cheap options.
Zipair, which is owned by Japan Airlines (JAL), launched from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on March 13, providing the cheapest non-stop flight between the region and Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT).
Before it launched, tickets were nearly sold out on many dates in March and April, and the lower-fare classes were no longer available on popular dates through the summer.
In February, the airline added additional flights for the late summer and into the fall. It will offer the service five times weekly starting July 23 and continuing through Oct. 26.
The Tokyo-based carrier currently offers flights thrice-weekly service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Starting Tuesday, July 23, the airline will also offer flights on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Cheaper flights on the Vancouver-to-Japan route
Most ultra-low-cost options aren't available until the new schedule kicks in, in August. Prices drop several hundred dollars for one-way and return options during this time and heading into the fall.
For example, a one-way direct flight that departs from YVR on Wednesday, Sept. 18 costs $443, or roughly $260 cheaper than usual. Flights around this time typically cost between $600 and $710, according to Google Flights (see slide 2).
A round-trip flight that departs from YVR on Wednesday, Sept. 18 and returns from NRT on Wednesday, Sept. 25 costs $819, or $1,563 cheaper than usual. Flights around this time typically cost between $2,000 and $3,600, according to Google Flights (see slides three and four).
Zipair also provides service between the Japanese capital and several cities across the United States, including Honolulu, San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles. It also flies to major destinations across Asia, including South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
JAL, All Nippon Airlines, and Air Canada are the only other airlines that offer non-stop service between YVR and Japan.
