That's great, and it will be a good start for other countries to recognize Bitcoin . Also, the process will be much faster since people will use their smartphones making the adoption easier.
Yes, this is great and I guess this is no wonder anymore because the Japanese government have already accepted the bitcoin as a medium of exchange so instead of any other currency so now bitcoin can be used for the purchase of air tickets.
Not only the airlines will almost every institution accept it in Japan as they have knowledge of the bitcoin power. When your government accepts it then you have no other option to welcome it.