Tokyo Haneda becomes key hub for long-haul flights

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

In the wake of the pandemic, Japan’s aviation landscape is experiencing a significant transformation, with All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) reshaping their international flight strategies. Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND), due to its proximity to the city center—just seven miles compared to Narita’s 44 miles—is becoming the focal point for the long-haul international flights of these leading carriers. This strategic shift underscores Haneda’s growing prominence as a gateway for travelers seeking to explore or do business in Tokyo and beyond.

While Haneda is set to accommodate the bulk of long-haul flights, Narita Airport is not being sidelined. Instead, it’s adapting to focus on medium-haul routes, introducing new airline brands to cater to this segment. This diversification in operational focus between the two airports marks a thoughtful response to changing travel patterns and passenger preferences post-pandemic.

This summer, international flights from Narita will operate at just over a third of their pre-pandemic volume, with ANA offering 116 weekly services across 18 routes during the peak travel season, a stark contrast to its previous 294 weekly flights across 34 routes. Conversely, at Haneda, ANA is nearing its pre-pandemic activity levels, scheduling 247 weekly flights across 24 routes, closely approaching its former 285 weekly flights on 30 routes.

JAL, too, is emphasizing its operations at Haneda, planning for an ambitious schedule that includes 236 weekly flights to 24 destinations, nearly doubling its pre-pandemic count of 154 weekly flights to 15 destinations. This expansion is highlighted by the deployment of the A350-1000 aircraft on routes such as Dallas/Fort Worth, demonstrating JAL’s commitment to enhancing its long-haul offerings from Haneda.

The addition of new international slots at Haneda in 2020 has further fueled the airport’s international expansion, attracting more flights and destinations. Meanwhile, certain operations to regions like Southeast Asia, China, Taiwan, Russia, India, and Germany are temporarily on hold, reflecting the ongoing adjustments in the global aviation sector.

ANA has also noted the retirement of 35 aircraft during the pandemic’s peak and a cautious approach to resuming routes affected by restrictions on flying over Russia and reduced operations to China. Despite these challenges, both ANA and JAL remain committed to leveraging Narita as a strategic hub for connecting flights between North America and Asia, signaling optimism for a gradual recovery in international travel demand.

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