Toyama Prefecture subsidizes flights to compete with Shinkansen

Toyama Prefecture has announced a subsidy program to promote business travel via Toyama Airport. To encourage the use of domestic flights over the Shinkansen, the prefecture will provide a 20,000 yen subsidy per person for one-way trips on routes to Haneda and Sapporo.

The subsidy targets corporate members of the Toyama Airport Supporters Club, a group with no entrance or annual fees. By covering the price difference between flexible airfares—which allow for last-minute changes—and Shinkansen fares, the prefecture aims to attract business travelers who prioritize scheduling flexibility. For example, a flight from Toyama to Haneda costing approximately 33,000 yen under a flexible fare could be reduced to about 13,000 yen through this initiative.

The program is available for flights taken from November 1 through the end of February next year, with a cap of 100,000 yen per member.

Additionally, Toyama Takayama Airport is launching a campaign for its new membership organization, ‘Toyama MY AIRPORT CLUB’. This campaign offers a chance for members to win 5,000 points via a lottery by using Toyama-Haneda flights for domestic or international connections within 24 hours of arrival at Haneda.