“Sado's Skies Reopen After 12 Years” TOKI AIR to Operate Historic Charter Flights
TOKI AIR is resuming passenger flights to Sado after a 12-year hiatus since 2014. In May 2026, familiarization and charter flights will be operated, marking a historic first step towards reopening Sado's air route.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 18:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 09:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 11, 2026 at 10:35 (1h 3m after Collected)
TOKI AIR Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture; Representative Directors: Naoki Wada, Masaki Hasegawa), a regional airline based in Niigata, will conduct familiarization flights and charter operations in May 2026, aiming to resume passenger services to Sado after approximately 12 years, since regular flights between Sado and Niigata were suspended in April 2014.
This operation is not limited to a one-time charter flight but is a first step towards creating new air travel value connecting Sado and the mainland, with the goal of making Sado an "island that can be visited by air" once again.
1. Overview of Familiarization Flights
(1) Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Reserve day: Wednesday, May 20
(2) Time: Niigata Airport Departure Time (scheduled) 11:00
Sado Airport Arrival Time (scheduled) 11:30
Sado Airport Departure Time (scheduled) 14:00
* Flights may be canceled or postponed due to weather conditions or other reasons.
* After the aircraft arrives at Sado Airport, Representative Director Masaki Hasegawa will respond to media inquiries.
* No events will be held at Sado Airport in conjunction with these familiarization flights.
2. Overview of Charter Flights
(1) Date: Thursday, May 28, 2026
(2) Time: Kobe Airport Departure Time (scheduled) 10:00
Sado Airport Arrival Time (scheduled) 11:30
* Passengers will be limited to related parties, such as travel agency representatives.
* Flights may be canceled or postponed due to weather conditions or other reasons.
* After the aircraft arrives at Sado Airport, Representative Director Masaki Hasegawa will respond to media inquiries.
* After the media session, an in-flight tour for aircraft photography is planned.
3. Future Plans
After verifying these operations, TOKI AIR plans to launch Sado charter products as travel packages for general users in autumn 2026.
[Contact for this matter]
TOKI AIR Co., Ltd. Marketing Department, Public Relations: pr@tokiac.com
Media inquiries and in-flight tours require prior application. Please contact the public relations representative for details.
About TOKI AIR Co., Ltd.
Company Name: TOKI AIR Co., Ltd. (English name: TOKI AIR Co., Ltd.)
Established: July 2020
Representative Directors: Naoki Wada, Masaki Hasegawa
Head Office Location: Niigata Airport Terminal 1F, 3710 Matsuhama-cho, Higashi-ku, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture
Business Activities: Air transport services
URL: https://tokiair.com/
TOKI AIR is a regional airline based in Niigata, founded in 2020 with the vision of "aiming to revitalize regional industries through innovative mobility services." It uses environmentally friendly, low-carbon, and cost-reducing propeller aircraft such as the ATR 72-600/ATR42-600. It operates routes such as "Niigata = Sapporo (Okadama)", "Niigata = Nagoya (Chubu)", "Niigata = Kobe", and "Nagoya (Chubu) = Sapporo (Okadama)", contributing to all aspects of regional revitalization, including business, tourism, and inbound travel, by transporting people and goods.
Latest information and campaign details are also being shared on official social media:
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/tokiair_pr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokiair/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tokiair/
LINE: https://lin.ee/4TNAjkt
TOKI AIR Online Store: https://tokiair.official.ec/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jdRsszPahM
This operation is not limited to a one-time charter flight but is a first step towards creating new air travel value connecting Sado and the mainland, with the goal of making Sado an "island that can be visited by air" once again.
1. Overview of Familiarization Flights
(1) Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Reserve day: Wednesday, May 20
(2) Time: Niigata Airport Departure Time (scheduled) 11:00
Sado Airport Arrival Time (scheduled) 11:30
Sado Airport Departure Time (scheduled) 14:00
* Flights may be canceled or postponed due to weather conditions or other reasons.
* After the aircraft arrives at Sado Airport, Representative Director Masaki Hasegawa will respond to media inquiries.
* No events will be held at Sado Airport in conjunction with these familiarization flights.
2. Overview of Charter Flights
(1) Date: Thursday, May 28, 2026
(2) Time: Kobe Airport Departure Time (scheduled) 10:00
Sado Airport Arrival Time (scheduled) 11:30
* Passengers will be limited to related parties, such as travel agency representatives.
* Flights may be canceled or postponed due to weather conditions or other reasons.
* After the aircraft arrives at Sado Airport, Representative Director Masaki Hasegawa will respond to media inquiries.
* After the media session, an in-flight tour for aircraft photography is planned.
3. Future Plans
After verifying these operations, TOKI AIR plans to launch Sado charter products as travel packages for general users in autumn 2026.
[Contact for this matter]
TOKI AIR Co., Ltd. Marketing Department, Public Relations: pr@tokiac.com
Media inquiries and in-flight tours require prior application. Please contact the public relations representative for details.
About TOKI AIR Co., Ltd.
Company Name: TOKI AIR Co., Ltd. (English name: TOKI AIR Co., Ltd.)
Established: July 2020
Representative Directors: Naoki Wada, Masaki Hasegawa
Head Office Location: Niigata Airport Terminal 1F, 3710 Matsuhama-cho, Higashi-ku, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture
Business Activities: Air transport services
URL: https://tokiair.com/
TOKI AIR is a regional airline based in Niigata, founded in 2020 with the vision of "aiming to revitalize regional industries through innovative mobility services." It uses environmentally friendly, low-carbon, and cost-reducing propeller aircraft such as the ATR 72-600/ATR42-600. It operates routes such as "Niigata = Sapporo (Okadama)", "Niigata = Nagoya (Chubu)", "Niigata = Kobe", and "Nagoya (Chubu) = Sapporo (Okadama)", contributing to all aspects of regional revitalization, including business, tourism, and inbound travel, by transporting people and goods.
Latest information and campaign details are also being shared on official social media:
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/tokiair_pr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokiair/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tokiair/
LINE: https://lin.ee/4TNAjkt
TOKI AIR Online Store: https://tokiair.official.ec/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jdRsszPahM