Air India Shifts to Tokyo Haneda: Faster Connections
Air India is set to enhance its international service this northern summer season of 2025 by shifting its direct non-stop flights between Delhi and Tokyo from Narita to the more convenient Haneda Airport. Starting March 31, 2025, the Indian flag carrier will operate its four-times-weekly flights from Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) as flight AI358, now landing at Tokyo-Haneda Airport (HND) instead of Narita. This strategic move is designed to provide passengers with faster, more affordable access to central Tokyo and a superior travel experience.
The new schedule features flights departing DEL at 20:20 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, arriving at HND at 07:55 the next morning. On return, flight AI357 departs Haneda at 11:50 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, landing back in Delhi at 17:25 local time. Air India’s choice of Tokyo-Haneda over Narita will cut travel time to Tokyo Station from nearly one hour by road to about 30 minutes, significantly enhancing connectivity for business and leisure travelers alike.
All flights on this route will be operated using the carrier’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, featuring a two-class layout that accommodates 256 passengers, including 18 business class seats and 238 economy seats. The new schedule has been carefully planned to allow seamless connections with domestic flights from various Indian cities, as well as with international routes across Asia and Europe connecting to Tokyo via Delhi. This synchronization of flight times aims to boost overall travel convenience and ensure that passengers experience minimal layover times.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India, explained that moving flights to Haneda Airport is a significant advantage for the airline’s guests. “Moving our flights to Haneda Airport is a significant advantage for our guests – it brings them much closer to the centre of Tokyo,” Aggarwal stated. He added that this transition not only strengthens the connection between India’s bustling capital and Japan’s dynamic capital, but also supports increased trade and tourism between the two countries.
In addition to the improved schedule, Air India has expanded its codeshare agreement with Star Alliance partner, All Nippon Airways (ANA). Starting April 1, 2025, and pending regulatory approval, Air India will place its ‘AI’ designator on ANA-operated flights from Tokyo-Haneda to six major Japanese cities: Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Okinawa, Osaka, and Sapporo. This expanded codeshare arrangement enables passengers to travel from Delhi—or other cities on Air India’s network—on a single ticket, with baggage checked through to their final destination.
Reciprocally, ANA will apply its ‘NH’ designator on Air India’s flights between Delhi and Tokyo-Haneda and on onward Air India services to key Indian cities, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune. This partnership further integrates the two networks, providing travelers with more options and streamlined connections. Aggarwal noted, “Our deepened partnership with ANA opens up Japan like never before for our guests.”
With tourism on the rise—233,000 Indians visited Japan in 2024, a 40% increase from the previous year—Air India’s move to Haneda and the strengthened codeshare with ANA underscore its commitment to catering to the evolving needs of international travelers. This strategic realignment not only bolsters connectivity between India and Japan but also supports broader economic and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
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