Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) has announced plans for a new service between London and Tokyo Haneda Airport, amid rising demand for the route, Air Market said in an online report.
The new service, effective from March 30, 2014, also follows the news from the Japan National Tourism Organisation that the country is likely to hit the ten million visitor mark by the end of 2013.
Haneda Airport is increasingly seen as a hub, due to its accessibility for central Tokyo (13 minutes by Monorail) and the range of domestic flights, enabling easy access to popular Japanese destinations such as Hiroshima, Matsuyama and Okayama. The expansion will make ANA the biggest airline at Haneda Airport, offering the most international flights to and from this airport.
ANA adopts a dual-airport strategy in the Tokyo area, capitalising on the strengths of Haneda and Narita Airport. Routes and schedules for destinations between the two airports are claimed to be carefully planned to complement one another, offering passengers more choice and convenience, and meeting the growing demand for international travel.
Osamu Shinobe, ANA president, said, ‘With the new slots being added to Haneda Airport, we are seeking to utilise the strengths of both Haneda and Narita airports to offer an increased level of convenience for domestic and international routes, gaining new international customers travelling between Japan, North America, Europe and Asia.
‘Also in-line with the Haneda expansion, ANA is planning to offer an enhanced lounge and services, delivering a five-star airline experience both in the air and on the ground, allowing customers to experience Japan Quality at all times,’ he added.
ANA is planning to launch a new UK marketing campaign in late-December to support the expansion. ANA’s ‘By Design’ campaign focuses on the beauty of Japanese culture and its tradition of exceptional service, as part of efforts to attract more business travellers, as well as others to the country.
