Daiichi Koku (First Flying)
第一航空Airline
Daiichi Koku (First Flying) flies a DHC-6-400 Twin Otter from New Ishigaki Airport to Hateruma about three times a week and to Tarama about twice a week. Each 30-minute flight costs ¥14,000 one way for an adult, and the airline checks no more than 10 kg of bags per passenger.
Daiichi Koku is an Osaka company based at Yao Airport, and its Ishigaki office runs the Twin Otter flights to Hateruma and Tarama that began on 22 January 2024, as Tabiris reported. The Hateruma flight normally runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:00. Since July 2026 the Tarama flight goes on Fridays at 10:00 and Saturdays at 14:00. The airline fixes dates a month or two ahead with Taketomi Town and Tarama Village and posts them as a calendar on its site.
A fault found on 14 July 2026 grounded the Ishigaki flights until 11 September, and checks and aircraft scheduling then cancelled 7–21 October and 2–11 November. On 8 September the airline said it would plan suspension periods from November for the time being. Check the calendar before you build a February 2027 trip around these flights, and keep the ferry as your fallback.
Routes
| Service | Time | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ishigaki–Haterumadaiichi-koku | 30 min | About three round trips a week, normally Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays10:00 from Ishigaki, 11:30 from Hateruma | Dates are set a month or two ahead with Taketomi Town and posted as a calendar. Flights were suspended 15 July–11 September, 7–21 October and 2–11 November 2026. |
| Ishigaki–Taramadaiichi-koku | 30 min | About two round trips a week, normally Fridays and Saturdays, since July 2026Fridays 10:00 from Ishigaki and 11:30 from Tarama; Saturdays 14:00 from Ishigaki and 15:30 from Tarama | Dates are set a month or two ahead with Tarama Village. Extra or swapped flights run for island events such as the Tarama marathon on 21–22 November 2026. |
| Naha–Agunidaiichi-koku | – | – | – |
Fares
- Adult one-way, Ishigaki–HaterumaAges 12 and over; Daiichi Koku fare table, October 2026¥14,000
- Child one-way, Ishigaki–HaterumaAges 3 to 11; under 3 free on a lap¥8,500
- Adult one-way, Ishigaki–TaramaDaiichi Koku fare table, October 2026¥14,000
- Child one-way, Ishigaki–TaramaAges 3 to 11¥8,500
- Excess checked baggage, per kgOnly when the day's load allows¥300
Weather and cancellations
Daiichi Koku flies by visual flight rules and holds flights when weather cuts visibility. It can cancel a planned flight that has no bookings, and it covers no onward fares, ferries or hotels when a flight is delayed or cancelled.
Worth knowing
- Check-in for the 10:00 flight closes at 9:30 at Daiichi Koku's counter on the north side of the first-floor domestic lobby at New Ishigaki Airport, and the airline warns that latecomers may not board.
- Send heavy luggage over by ferry, since Daiichi Koku takes extra weight above 10 kg only when the day's load allows.
FAQ
Quick answers about Daiichi Koku (First Flying)よくある質問
Can you take a bike on Daiichi Koku?
A boxed bike exceeds Daiichi Koku's baggage limits. The airline checks up to two pieces per passenger, each within 150 cm in total dimensions and 10 kg in total, and publishes no bicycle rule. Send the bike on the ferry instead.
How much is the flight from Ishigaki to Hateruma?
An adult one-way ticket from Ishigaki to Hateruma costs ¥14,000 on Daiichi Koku, and a child aged 3 to 11 pays ¥8,500, on the fares the airline listed in October 2026. Ishigaki to Tarama costs the same.
Does Daiichi Koku fly every day?
No. Daiichi Koku flies Ishigaki–Hateruma about three days a week and Ishigaki–Tarama about two, on dates it publishes a month or two ahead, and it planned suspension periods from November 2026.
How long does Daiichi Koku (First Flying) take?
Ishigaki–Hateruma takes about 30 minutes, about three round trips a week, normally Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Does weather cancel Daiichi Koku (First Flying)?
Daiichi Koku flies by visual flight rules and holds flights when weather cuts visibility. It can cancel a planned flight that has no bookings, and it covers no onward fares, ferries or hotels when a flight is delayed or cancelled.
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