Air India shifts Delhi-Tokyo flights from Narita to Haneda Airport
What's the story
In a major development, Air India has announced a strategic shift in its Delhi-bound flight operations from Narita Airport to Haneda Airport in Tokyo. The move is aimed at giving passengers quicker access to central Tokyo, as the airport is located just 18km away from downtown. The airline also announced an expanded codeshare agreement with All Nippon Airways (ANA), its partner in the Star Alliance.
Journey improvement
Enhanced travel experience for passengers
The relocation of Air India's operations to Haneda Airport cuts down travel time to Tokyo Station by a huge margin. The journey now takes some 30 minutes, as opposed to nearly one hour by road from Narita Airport. This not only saves precious time for passengers but also provides more economical transportation options, thus improving their overall journey experience.
Partnership details
Expanded codeshare agreement with ANA
The expanded codeshare agreement between Air India and ANA will come into effect from April 1, 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. As part of the new arrangement, Air India will place its 'AI' designator code on ANA's flights between Tokyo Haneda and six other cities in Japan—Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Osaka, Sapporo, Nagoya, and Okinawa. This enables Air India guests to travel to any of these destinations on a single ticket with their baggage checked through the entire journey.
Mutual agreement
ANA reciprocates with codeshare on Air India's flights
In return, ANA will place its 'NH' designator code on Air India's flights between Delhi and Tokyo, and those to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Pune. This move offers ANA customers seamless access to Air India's extensive domestic network in India. The two airlines had first signed a codeshare agreement in April last year allowing them to share routes.
Additional benefits
Premium services and increased travel between India and Japan
Passengers flying on codeshare flights with Air India and ANA will be entitled to premium services like lounge access and priority boarding, provided by Star Alliance to its premium members. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 233,000 Indians visited Japan between January-December 2024—a 40% increase from the previous year—showing Japan's growing appeal as a travel destination for Indian tourists.