AirAsia has announced a new Hong Kong-Okinawa direct flight route, coupled with promotional low fares for June and July.
Almost immediately HK Express countered with a "HK$0 Fare" campaign. The sudden competition among airlines has unexpectedly turned this previously overlooked route into a trending topic.
Before AirAsia’s entry, HK Express and Hong Kong Airlines had already established operations on the Hong Kong-Okinawa route.
The early price war, ahead of peak summer demand, signals that the route’s appeal extends far beyond seasonal traffic.
While Tokyo and Osaka dominate as top-tier destinations, Okinawa thrives as a steady niche player, catering to family vacations, short getaways, and diving enthusiasts.
Just a 2.5-hour flight from Hong Kong, Okinawa is touted as an affordable alternative to Sanya.
Tourism data reveals that Okinawa welcomed about 9.66 million visitors in 2024.
The island enjoys robust visitor numbers from Hong Kong and Taiwan, which jointly accounted for 60% of non-Japanese tourists in August. South Koreans comprised 35%, while Mainland Chinese travelers represented 2.7%.
