✈️ New Itami–Naha Flights Start Oct 25

❓ What's changing?

On October 23, 2026, the Civil Aviation Bureau of Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) granted Japan Transocean Air (JTA) permission to operate at a designated congested airport — Osaka International Airport (Itami). One more carrier therefore joins the airlines serving Itami. Under Article 107-3, Paragraph 1 of the Civil Aeronautics Act, five airports are currently designated as congested: Narita, Tokyo International (Haneda), Kansai International, Osaka International (Itami), and Fukuoka. Slots at these airports are capped, so an airline cannot simply add a route; it needs a specific government permit first. The approved operating plan covers the Osaka (Itami)–Naha route, using Osaka International and Naha airports, with two round trips per day on a Boeing 737-800. Service is scheduled to begin on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Departures from Itami are at 14:05 and 19:40 (arriving Naha 16:25 and 22:00); departures from Naha are at 11:30 and 17:05 (arriving Itami 13:20 and 18:55). Timetables differ depending on the departure date. Procedurally, the Transport Council advised on October 1, 2026 that the application was appropriate to approve, and MLIT issued the permit on October 23. The practical difference from before: JTA, which did not hold Itami slots, can now fly Itami–Naha under its own flight numbers.

👥 Who is affected?

• ●Foreign residents in Kansai (Osaka, Hyogo, Kyoto, etc.) who fly domestically from Itami
• ●Anyone travelling to Okinawa (Naha) for leisure, business, or family visits
• ●Visitors to Japan booking flights on the Itami–Naha route
• ●Travellers looking for afternoon or evening departures to Okinawa

🌏 Impact on foreign residents and visitors

For foreign residents in Kansai, Itami is the closer of the region's two main airports, reachable from central Osaka by monorail or bus. With one more carrier flying Itami–Naha, two extra round trips a day are added, widening the choice of flight times and fares for domestic travel to Okinawa. Visitors to Japan can also combine a Kansai stay with an Okinawa stay more easily. The key thing when booking is the schedule: Itami departures are at 14:05 and 19:40 and Naha departures at 11:30 and 17:05, but the timetable varies by departure date, so always check the airline's timetable for your own travel day. Some arrivals are late in the evening, so plan onward transport and accommodation in Naha or Osaka accordingly. Note that this permit concerns domestic operations only — it does not change immigration procedures or residence status rules.