All Nippon Airways Expands European Network with New Routes and Enhanced Services

All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest airline, is setting the stage for a significant expansion of its European network, reflecting the growing inbound travel demand to Japan. The airline has announced plans to launch three new routes to Europe, alongside resuming and boosting frequencies on existing services, in anticipation of the northern winter 2024-25 season.

ANA is preparing to connect Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND) with three key European cities: Istanbul, Milan, and Stockholm. These destinations were initially intended to be part of ANA’s network in 2020 but were deferred due to the pandemic. While specific start dates and frequencies are yet to be confirmed, this expansion marks a significant step in ANA’s international strategy.

Further enhancing its European connectivity, ANA is set to resume its seasonal thrice-weekly flights from HND to Vienna from August 2, a route that has been on pause since May 2022. The airline is also increasing its services to Munich Airport (MUC) and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), upgrading both routes to daily flights from July 1, up from their current frequencies.

Koji Shibata, ANA’s president and CEO, emphasizes the airline’s focus on international flight business in the upcoming fiscal year. ANA aims to resume suspended international routes and launch new ones, providing more travel options and experiences to a broader customer base.

The airline’s expansion comes at a time when inbound traffic to Japan has rebounded strongly, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. October 2023 saw international arrivals reach 2.5 million, underscoring the country’s continued appeal to global travelers.

In the Tokyo-Istanbul sector, ANA will complement services offered by Star Alliance partner Turkish Airlines, which currently operates daily flights connecting Istanbul Airport (IST) with both HND and Tokyo Narita International Airport. ANA’s entry into this market is a significant development for IST, which recently welcomed new flights from several major airlines and is set to see Turkish Airlines’ inaugural service to Australia in March 2024.

ANA’s Milan route will mark the first nonstop service between Tokyo and Milan since ITA Airways’ predecessor Alitalia ceased operations. Additionally, the airline’s introduction of the Stockholm route will make it the sole operator of direct flights between Japan and Sweden, a route underscored by strong economic ties.

Beyond Europe, ANA is also enhancing its services in Asia. The airline plans to increase flights from HND to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), while resuming operations to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) from Narita. The increased frequencies to PEK and PVG, and the resumption of HKG services, reflect steady demand in these markets.

Domestically, ANA is deploying its new 787-10 aircraft on high-demand routes. Its subsidiary Peach is set to increase flight numbers on the NRT-Sapporo and Kansai-Sapporo routes, and Narita-Okinawa services will also see an increase. This domestic market strategy complements ANA’s international expansion, showcasing the airline’s comprehensive approach to meeting the evolving travel needs.