IBARAKI International Airport

Group Tour was Conducted through Ibaraki-Seoul Chartered Flight.

2013/01/18

At the Ceremony and Sight-Seeing Areas

On Friday, January 18th and Sunday, January 20th, the first flight from Seoul after the March 11th earthquake disaster was operated by Asiana Airlines and all the seats were occupied.

Upon arrival at Ibaraki Airport on Friday, January 18th, a welcome ceremony was held at the airport terminal building, and Shinichi Sakaki, the Deputy Governor of Ibaraki Prefecture and Ibaraki Sky Guide presented flowers to a pilot and the cabin crew members from Asiana Airlines. Souvenirs such as dried sweet potatoes were presented to the tourist from Korea.

In addition, a group tour from Ibaraki to Seoul was conducted through this chartered flight.
Tourists from Korea visited major sight-seeing areas in Ibaraki such as Aqua World Oarai, Kairakuen, and Fukuroda Falls and were welcomed with souvenirs.

Chartered flights between Seoul and Ibaraki are planned to operate again in March and these tours will be on sale shortly.

Comments from the tour members from Seoul

• There are no large gardens like Kairakuen in Korea so it was impressive.(Male in his 40s)
• A hot-spring in Daigo in the cold weather was very nice. (Female in her 50s)
• Boiled dishes that were part of a Kaiseki-Ryori (traditional Japanese meal brought in courses) were delicious. (Female in her 50s)
• I am glad that I was able to buy clothes for cheap at an outlet shopping mall. (Male in his 20s)

Comments from Asiana Airlines

Asiana Airlines has become able to serve the first Seoul-Ibaraki chartered flight after the March 11th earthquake disaster. This time, all the seats were occupied for both the Korea and Japan departure, and we sincerely hope this opportunity will be the beginning of the recovery of tourist numbers visiting Japan from Korea.