As an Aer Club member I'm delighted. Won't have to fly BA to the east anymore to collect Avios :D

Assuming of course that Avios are awarded properly. In my experience that's far from certain.

Any news of Japan Airlines doing the same?

Musings from today's Irish Times.


Irish tourismindustry only a Trump tantrum away from disaster

You have posed the question twice now.

What's the obsession with Japan Airlines and Tokyo?

I think there are bigger candidates in Europe that would see such a service before Dublin.

Well, given that they chartered a flight to Dublin last month, I was beginning to think that JAL was looking at starting regular direct flights.

@canberra97 who put you in charge of what people are allowed to ask? You're also having a go at a poor chap on the Gatwick thread who asked another question you disapproved of. Now leave off mate, you're embarrasing yourself. Again. I learn by asking, now pipe down and let people be.

JAL is an outside chance as DUB is of course a large Oneworld hub as Aer Lingus rejoin, stranger things have happened, but don't be afraid to ask. There's lots of knowledgable peeps who might help with some info on here. Use the block button if you have to :)

Great news on the HKG route. Is there anywhere I can find a list of most popular destination for passengers ex. Dublin that have to connect at another airport? Surely, the likes of São Paulo would be up there no?

JAL - Years off if ever, only the major hubs have flights to Japan. Market filled for now with new HKG. BEJ is possible but my money is on it not happening.

Not much traffic between Ireland and Sao Paulo, even during the Olympics there wasnt much of a demand for a direct charter!

There must have been a reason why JAL operated a charter to Dublin. I'm sure they were testing the route for future direct flights. It couldn't have been a one off.

Well you can tell yourself if you wish.

You do realise the point of a charter? They occur all the time? I don't think JAL even sold tickets for the service.

Someone paid them to do it. The end.

Its entirely plausible that they'll never operate another charter to DUB ever again.

Normally I would like to be wishful in my thinking - but I'd say that Tokyo is not really the priority in Asia from Dublin. I'd say the next Asian routes in Dublin's range would be Beijing and Bangkok, these are frequently enough mentioned.

After them two - maybe Delhi and Shanghai would be contenders.

Why isn't Tokyo a priority? Largest city in the world and will be hosting the next Olympics.

Because it's not a realistic hub, it doesn't have a large focus on traffic and the market is very limited.

One or two fairly sketchy reasons don't make a route. We see this all the time with people who think that xxx is a great route because they go there. It's taken an age for DUB to get a Chinese route, this proves the market isn't massive and there won't be a sudden explosion of east asian routes.

Do you think theres a chance it might happen in the next few years? After seeing Cathay Pacific launching flights, will they be tempted to do the same?

Dublin will be Cathay Pacific's 13th European destination, whereas Japan Airlines serve only 5 European cities. Europe isn't really a priority for JAL as their partnership with Finnair gives them access to most major European cities, and Helsinki is well placed for a Europe-Asia hub. Dublin is only suited to be a Europe-North America hub given its location, so I can't see JAL entering the market anytime soon.

That's a shame. I was starting to be hopeful for a second. That leaves ANA then. What are the chances of them flying to Dublin?

same as anyone else in East Asia - not very high

Not much business demand (and that's what pays the bills) and low tourist demand

KLM up AMS from 5 to 6 daily four days a week next summer.