MINNEAPOLIS (KFGO/WCCO) – For the first time since before the pandemic, nonstop air travel is available between the Twin Cities and Tokyo, Japan.
Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesman Jeff Lea said the flight is another step back to normalcy.
“This is just another milestone in the confidence of air travel again after the last three years and the pandemic, international travel, especially trans-oceanic flights,” Lea said. “Our international service has returned about 90% to what it was pre-pandemic with this restart of Tokyo.”
State economic development officials said there are more than 40 Japanese-owned businesses in Minnesota, and Japan is the third-largest foreign investor in the state.
“Japan is a very important trading partner to the U.S. and Minnesota,” Lea said. “There are a number of Japanese-owned companies that operate here in the state, and the employees that serve under those companies. It helps with connectivity to an economic engine standpoint for our region.”
The return of the Minneapolis-to-Tokyo route had been delayed multiple times throughout the pandemic after being initially halted in March 2020, as Japan kept its borders closed to international tourism longer than most other countries.
The flight operates daily via Delta.
Google Flights currently shows prices around $3,500 through the rest of the year, with prices getting only as low as $3,200 on selected dates.
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