The US Departments of State and Transportation have reached an agreement that will allow UPS and other air carriers to expand air operations to and from Japan.

The agreement allows UPS to operate six daily flights between the US and Nagoya, in addition to its daily service to Tokyo and Osaka. UPS be able to connect these flights to its new air hub in Shanghai, China.

“With the establishment of our hub in Shanghai and its formal opening next year, the opening of air lanes between Nagoya and Shanghai will improve our services to customers throughout Asia, especially China and Japan,” said Ken Torok, president, UPS Asia-Pacific.

UPS has operated in Japan since 1987 and transitioned to a wholly owned international express delivery operation in 2004. The company's operations cover fifteen metropolitan areas.

UPS currently offers 47 weekly flights to and from Tokyo and Osaka.

Japan is one of the more than 40 countries and territories UPS serves in Asia. The company operates air hubs in Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines and will formally open its hub in Shanghai in 2008.