Air India Enhances India-Japan Connectivity with Haneda Move and ANA Codeshare
Delhi, India – Air India, India’s leading global airline, has announced a strategic enhancement of its services to Japan. Effective March 31, 2025, the airline will transition its four-times-weekly flights from Delhi to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND), replacing the current services to Narita International Airport (NRT). This move aims to provide passengers with faster and more affordable access to central Tokyo.
Advantages of Transitioning to Haneda Airport:
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Proximity to Central Tokyo: Haneda Airport is located approximately 18 kilometers from downtown Tokyo, significantly closer than Narita’s 70 kilometers. This reduces travel time to Tokyo Station from nearly one hour to approximately 30 minutes, offering passengers both time and cost savings.
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Enhanced Passenger Experience: The shift to Haneda is expected to improve overall journey experiences by providing more convenient and efficient access to Tokyo’s city center.
Expanded Codeshare Agreement with All Nippon Airways (ANA):
In conjunction with the airport transition, Air India has expanded its codeshare partnership with ANA, a fellow Star Alliance member. Subject to regulatory approvals, starting April 1, 2025, Air India will place its ‘AI’ designator code on ANA’s flights from Tokyo Haneda to six major Japanese cities: Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Okinawa, Osaka, and Sapporo. This arrangement allows Air India passengers to travel seamlessly to these destinations on a single ticket, with baggage checked through to the final destination.
Conversely, ANA will place its ‘NH’ designator code on Air India’s flights between Delhi and Tokyo Haneda, as well as on domestic routes connecting Delhi with Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune. This reciprocal arrangement enhances connectivity for passengers traveling between Japan and India.
Executive Insights:
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India, commented on the developments, stating that moving flights to Haneda Airport brings passengers closer to central Tokyo, effectively connecting the capitals and boosting trade and tourism between India and Japan. He also highlighted that the expanded partnership with ANA opens up Japan more than ever for Air India’s guests, simplifying travel and enriching the experience for shared customers.
Katsuya Goto, ANA’s Executive Vice President of Alliances and International Affairs, remarked that the expanded codeshare partnership with Air India enhances network connectivity, providing customers with more opportunities and seamless connections, particularly benefiting premium customers. He emphasized that this step aligns with ANA’s ongoing efforts to offer superior travel experiences between Japan and India.
Flight Schedule Between Delhi and Tokyo Haneda:
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Flight AI358: Departs Delhi (DEL) at 20:20 hrs, arriving at Tokyo Haneda (HND) at 07:55 hrs the following day. Operates on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
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Flight AI357: Departs Tokyo Haneda (HND) at 11:50 hrs, arriving at Delhi (DEL) at 17:25 hrs. Operates on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
These flights will utilize Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, featuring 18 Business Class flatbeds and 238 Economy Class seats. The schedule facilitates seamless connections to various domestic destinations within India and international routes across Asia and Europe.
Growing Tourism Between India and Japan:
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 233,000 Indians visited Japan between January and December 2024, marking a 40% increase from the previous year. This surge underscores Japan’s growing appeal as a travel destination for Indian tourists.
