DELHI- India’s leading global airline, Air India (AI), has announced a significant shift in its operations in Tokyo. Starting March 31, 2025, the airline will relocate its Delhi-Tokyo service from Narita International Airport (NRT) to Haneda Airport (HND).
This move is aimed at providing faster and more affordable access to central Tokyo, making travel between India and Japan more seamless and convenient. Additionally, Air India has expanded its codeshare agreement with All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest airline, to offer enhanced connectivity to six additional cities in Japan.
Air India Tokyo Haneda
The new Delhi-Tokyo Haneda service will continue to be operated four times a week. Air India will continue to deploy Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. The Dreamliner is renowned for its fuel efficiency, passenger comfort, and range, making it ideal for long-haul flights.
Flight Timings:
The timings of the flights have been altered as well. Air India’s flights to Tokyo will depart 3 hours early.
- Flight AI358 will depart Delhi at 8:20 PM (IST). The flight will arrive in Tokyo Haneda at 7:55 AM (local time) the following day.
- The return flight, AI357 will depart from Tokyo Haneda at 11:50 AM (local time). The return flight will arrive in Delhi at 5:25 PM (IST).
These timings seem to have been altered to provide smooth onward connections for passengers traveling to other destinations in India and Japan via Japanese carrier ANA.
Why Haneda over Narita?
For those who are not aware, Tokyo is served by two major international airports. These are Narita International Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport (HND). Narita has traditionally been Tokyo’s primary international gateway. However, Haneda is much closer to central Tokyo and offers better connectivity to domestic Japanese cities.
These could be the reasons why Air India’s is shifting operations to Haneda:
- Proximity to Tokyo’s Business Districts: Haneda Airport is just 18 km away from downtown Tokyo, compared to 70 km for Narita. This drastically reduces travel time for passengers commuting between the airport and the city. The average drive from Haneda to Tokyo Station takes around 30 minutes, while from Narita, it can take nearly an hour or more. This makes Haneda a preferred airport for point-to-point passengers.
- Lower Transportation Costs: Traveling from Narita to downtown Tokyo can be costly, with taxi fares exceeding ¥25,000 ($170 USD). The train tickets are also priced higher than those from Haneda. The Monorail and Keikyu Line from Haneda offer more affordable and efficient options.
- Better Domestic Connectivity: Haneda serves as the main hub for domestic flights in Japan. ANA has much bigger and significant presence in Haneda. By operating from Haneda, Air India passengers can easily connect to major Japanese cities such as Osaka, Sapporo, and Fukuoka with Air India and ANA’s expanded codeshare partnership.
- Preferred by Business Travelers: Many global airlines have moved their international flights to Haneda due to its proximity and convenience, making it a preferred airport for corporate travelers.
This move brings Tokyo within easier reach for Indian travelers and strengthens Air India’s position in the highly competitive Asia-Pacific aviation market.
India-Japan Market overlook
India and Japan share strong diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties. With an increasing number of Indians traveling to Japan for business, education, and tourism, Air India’s move to Haneda will play a crucial role in strengthening these connections.
With Japan witnessing an increase in Indian travelers and growing economic ties between the two nations, this move marks a new chapter in Indo-Japanese aviation connectivity. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Japan saw a huge growth in the number of Indians visitors in 2024. There were 233,000 Indians, who visited Japan in 2024. It marked a 40% increase from 2023.
India is becoming one of Japan’s fastest-growing tourist markets. Japan’s focus on attracting Indian travelers has led to more visa relaxations and tourism promotions.
Furthermore, trade and investment between India and Japan are growing rapidly. With major Japanese corporations expanding in India and Indian businesses establishing operations in Japan, this direct and efficient air link will facilitate faster movement of professionals, investors, and business delegations.
Enhanced Connectivity Through Codeshare
Air India has also expanded its partnership with ANA. ANA is the Japan’s flagship carrier and fellow Star Alliance member. The new codeshare agreement, effective from April 1, 2025, will allow passengers seamless travel between India and multiple destinations across Japan.
Under this partnership:
- Air India will place its ‘AI’ code on ANA flights from Tokyo Haneda to six major Japanese cities: Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Okinawa, Osaka, and Sapporo.
- ANA will reciprocate by placing its ‘NH’ code on Air India’s Delhi-Tokyo Haneda flights, as well as on domestic Indian routes covering Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune.
- Elite passengers of both airlines will enjoy premium benefits like lounge access, priority boarding, and seamless transfers under the Star Alliance privileges.
This means passengers can book a single ticket for their entire journey, with baggage checked through to their final destination, reducing hassle and wait times at connecting airports.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India, emphasized that:
“This deeper collaboration with ANA will significantly improve connectivity between India and Japan and open up new travel opportunities for both business and leisure travelers.”
With this shift, Air India is aiming to:
- Strengthen Star Alliance partnerships for global connectivity as Haneda is the biggest base for ANA.
- Compete more effectively with other international carriers operating in the India-Japan sector.
Bottom Line
Air India’s move to Haneda Airport and expanded codeshare with ANA aligns with its broader vision of becoming a world-class global carrier under its new leadership. Since its acquisition by the Tata Group, Air India has been aggressively expanding its international network. The airline has also been upgrading its fleet, and modernizing passenger services.
The relocation of Air India’s Delhi-Tokyo service to Haneda Airport marks a significantstep for Air India. It might be the first time Air India will be flying to Haneda. This move cuts travel time, lowers costs, and improves access to central Tokyo.
The expanded codeshare agreement with ANA further enhances travel options. This will make Air India an attractive choice for passengers flying between the two nations.
Japan is emerging as a key destination for Indian tourists, students, and business professionals. Air India’s strategic decision will pave the way for smoother, faster, and more efficient travel option.
Bookings for the new Haneda service are now open across all platforms. This including Air India’s website, mobile app, and other booking portals. Passengers can look forward to a more seamless and enjoyable journey.
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