Peach Aviation, the Japanese no-frills carrier, will launch the first non-stop air link between Bangkok and Okinawa in February.
The route, which was first mulled by the airline back in 2013, is set to become reality with its maiden flight from the southern Japanese island city on Feb 19.
According to the Osaka-based airline, it will offer three flights a week on the route, which represents its first activity in Southeast Asia.
Bangkok will be Peach's first port of call in Southeast Asia. The airline also envisions flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are out of the running as they lie beyond the four-hour flying radius from Okinawa, beyond the range of the Airbus 320-200 jets in Peach's fleet.
Peach is targeting outbound Japanese heading to the Land of Smiles, as Thai interest in Okinawa is limited, industry analysts said.
Okinawa has been a critical strategic location for US armed forces since the end of World War II and hosts about 26,000 US military personnel.
Other major cities in more central regions of Japan have been frequented by various Thai airlines, mostly full-service carriers.
Peach is set to begin online sales of Okinawa-Bangkok tickets tomorrow, with fares starting at ¥9,980 (about 3,080 baht) for one-way flights in economy cabin class and ¥13,580 in premium class.
Peach flights from Okinawa Naha airport to Bangkok land at Suvarnabhumi airport.
The airline's international expansion appears to zero in on connecting Japan with East Asian destinations such as Hong Kong, Busan, Seoul, Taipei and Shanghai.
Peach operates 18 A320-200s, each configured with 180 seats, on 14 Japanese routes and 12 international routes.