Travellers can still fly from Vancouver to Japan for half price -- but ultra-cheap tickets for direct flights are few and far between.
In November, Japan Airlines (JAL) announced a new direct route connecting Vancouver International Airport (YVR) with Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) via its "basic" carrier, Zipair.
Flights from YVR with Zipair don't commence until March but tickets are selling quickly. Tickets from March until the end of August average well above $1,000, although there are a couple of tickets in the $950 range.
Travellers who want to book a one-way ticket to the Land of the Rising Sun can nab a one-way, direct flight for a jaw-dropping $403 this fall. What's more, there are several dates available at this price point in September and October (see the second slide).
This price is about $300 cheaper than usual, according to Google Flights.
Travellers who want to book round-trip tickets to Japan will find prices work out to be even lower. There are a couple of dates available with prices starting at $738, which is less than double the price of a one-way from YVR -- but these low-cost options are slim. What's more, there are several dates available at this price point (see the fourth slide).
This price is roughly $1,645 cheaper than usual, according to Google Flights.
Zipair launches flights from Vancouver to Tokyo, Japan
Describing itself as "basic" (neither low-cost nor full-service), the airline is owned by Japan's flagship carrier, JAL, and provides service from the Japanese capital to cities around the world.
Zipair currently 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.
Currently, JAL, All Nippon Airlines, and Air Canada are the only airlines that offer non-stop service between YVR and NRT.
