While nice for HKers, I doube many Shizouka-siders are much interested in coming here, when the exchange rate is so much against them.

I'm actively trying to de-Japanese my and my missus's travel. Recent trip to NZ:

1. Before departure
a. Me: I filled in ETD for you
Missus: what's that
Me: VJW for New Zealand

1a. At the border:
NZ Immigration: Did you fill in ETD?
Missus: I have ETA
NZ Immigration: that's not the ETD. ETD is separate. Step aside and fill in paper form.

(This was a mistake on the first officer's part. The next officer who processed the missus confirmed she had a properly filled out ETD, but the first officer didn't check.
But then again that's what happens when the missus is hard coded to go to Japan and nowhere else.)

2. At the ski slope - we got our skis
Missus: The staff don't ask us to try on the skis?
Me: Is it loose?
Missus: Well, it won't fall apart. But they should ask me to try first.
Me: Can you try and remember you're not in Hokkaido for the next few days?

Very much agree that these flights to small Japanese cities are probably almost entirely HKers. Would be interesting if over time and given an improved exchange rate, because they offer a direct connection, it helped attract more Japanese to visit HK.

although I hope so as well, I think its unlikely, as Japanese do not like travelling abroad in general , they feel safer in Japan and feel unsafe anywhere else I think. some of them also don't like foreigners. there's also been a lot of hate between China and japan and that doesn't help at all.

though i think these flights to these more niche japanese and SE asia cities would also contain transit passengers and nearby passengers like macau and shenzhen. i think UO also has a lot of passengers from these areas.

UO (and CX) having i) O&D traffic from the Pearl River Basin starting in HKG and ii) transit traffic from rest of China isn't exactly news.

Before that, I used to travel by MU transit in PVG to FSZ.
FSZ is a light industry version of NGO. I guess CX is trying to do cargo as well.

De-Japanese here as well.
The hotel rate in Japan, especially Hokkaido and Tokyo is reaching insane level. Ski trip moved from Japan to Beijing this year and NZ next year.

Non-paywall copy https://archive.is/1HZVI

I hear you about the year-end resort rate. But I don't have enough time for Europe in my line of work so taking the Fudge It Book It attitude to booking. Citi Prestige buy 4 get 1 free absorbed some of damage (I barely have 4 nights on the island, I might even need to Work From Hokkaido for a day).

I guess the subsidies from Hong Kong Airport Authority for airlines to open new routes helped.

Accomodations prices in JP is through the roof.

Fortunately I can do Mt Tremblant, Lake Placid and Whistler/Blackcoomb while visiting family.

The idea of a vacation/holiday is to get away from HK; going to JP just doesn't cut it

I thought (maybe assumed?) those were for carriers other than local ones? I do know they really wanted to incentivize Europe and North America with them rather than more Asia routes.

Interesting, which particular routes do you think HK Airport Authority would like to see added from Europe/N. America?

if the local airlines got this subsidies they would be adding many, many more.

for I believe almost a year, no foriegn airlines have added routes or increased frequencies/ use better planes that are above 5 hours to HKG. for the western carriers I'm sure its because transatlantic gives infinite money and political reasons.

though I'm sure the airport authority would want middle east, Africa etc. as well. not just europe and NA.

Which specific new Mid East/Africa routes do you think HK Airport Authority would like to see?