China-Japan market grows with doubling of tourism, four new airlines and greater city-pairs

There is no mistaking the political tension from China in creating a special holiday, with full military parade, on 03-Sep-2015 to commemorate "The 70th anniversary of Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War". Relations between Japan and China have been sour, including in late 2012 when air traffic quickly dissipated. But despite what the special holiday's name may suggest, Japan and China's aeropolitical relations are at their strongest in recent times.

China has granted approval for more services from prized Tokyo Haneda that were agreed upon some years ago but not implemented due to frosty relations. But Haneda is a small part of the growth between China and Japan.

Chinese visitors to Japan have doubled in 2015, and four new Chinese airlines launched Japanese service in 2014 and 2015. 34 Chinese cities have service to Japan in 2015, up from 16 in 2010. Most growth has occurred from Shanghai, with LCC Spring Airlines adding as many seats as China Eastern. Spring now has a 7% share of the China-Japan market.