Direct flights linking Japan's Kobe and Chinese cities of Shanghai and Nanjing, Jiangsu province were launched by Shanghai-based airliner Juneyao Airlines on Friday (April 18) and Saturday (April 19), respectively, marking the first batch of international flights operated at Kobe Airport.

The two new direct flights, both operational on a daily basis, would further enrich Juneyao Airlines' aviation network in Japan, holding great significance in promoting the in-depth collaboration between the Yangtze River Delta region and the Kansai region of Japan in the fields of economy, trade, culture and tourism.

The launch of the two new direct flights coincided with the World Expo in Osaka, which was inaugurated on April 13, and is expected to promote the growth in business trips and traveling between China and Japan.

Inbound tourist volume in China surged 60.8 percent year-on-year in 2024, with an evident increase of Japanese travelers, representing sizable potential demand in the market.

So far, a total of 14 air routes connecting China with Japanese destinations, including Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe, are being operated by Juneyao Airlines in this year's summer-autumn aviation season, giving the carrier an edge in exploring the rising market demand for international traveling.