Juneyao Airlines announced that it will launch charter flights between Shanghai and Obihiro in Hokkaido, northernmost Japan, from Tuesday to March 24. The airline aims to meet demand from Chinese tourists to Japan, among whom Hokkaido is a popular destination. It is considering launching regular flights on the route in the future.

Juneyao has already been operating flights between China and the five Japanese airports of Naha, Kansai, Fukuoka, Haneda and Chubu. Obihiro will be the first airport in Hokkaido to be covered by Jueyao's service network. The Japan External Trade Organization helped Juneyao expand into Hokkaido, by conducting market research on behalf of the carrier.

Using the A320 aircraft of Airbus SAS, the airline will make three round-trip flights a week. On February 4, 9, 14 and 16, however, the route's destination in Japan will be changed to Kushiro, another Hokkaido city.