From May this year the non-stop flight between Fukuoka International Airport and Honolulu, operated by Delta Airlines, will be terminated as part of Delta Airline’s larger reshuffle of international flights. Going into commission in December 2011 the route operated five round trips every week, the last of which will depart on Fukuoka on May 8th. High operation costs, despite strong seat sales combined with the company’s global strategy, are reportedly reasons for the termination. JAL launched the first Fukuoka to Honolulu route in June of 1981, but the service was terminated after three years. Hawaiian Airlines and Northwest Airlines have also tried to implement the route but have similarly terminated services. While Delta is canceling their Fukuoka-Honolulu service, they are maintaining non-stop flights there from Narita, Kansai and Chubu airports. According to those in the tourism industry, this is already affecting travel agencies, with those on international travel desks having to deal with the closure of the route in the run-up to the summer holidays when Hawaii is a particularly popular destination. According to JTB, with the closing of the Fukuoka-Honolulu route, more tourists from Kyushu are likely to consider Asia as a holiday destination, adding traffic to the already popular destinations of Taiwan and South Korea.
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