Planned Q1 Japanese-Europe Flights Remain At Just 50% Of Pre-Pandemic Levels

The reopening of Japan means that many airlines have added back service, although most markets inevitably still have fewer flights than they did pre-pandemic. Europe is no exception and is also still influenced by most carriers not overflying Russia. In Q1 2023, between January and March, 1,620 nonstop Japan flights are scheduled, just 54% of what there were in Q1 2020, according to the latest OAG data.

Japan-Europe: Q1 2023

Japan will have nonstop scheduled passenger flights to 14 European countries in Q1. These include Italy, which ITA, the successor to Alitalia, launched earlier in November, and Finland, with Finnair inaugurating Tokyo Haneda on October 30th, supplementing Finland’s other routes from Japan. Some 18 European airports have service, with the top ten below.

Notice how much distance there is still to go until the pre-coronavirus figures are achieved, let alone exceeded. This is especially the case for Munich and Amsterdam, and notably Helsinki and Paris CDG among the greater served airports. CDG previously ranked first but is now third. Its drop is due to Air France, whose Japan flights are half what they were, mainly because of CDG-Tokyo Haneda is at 1x daily rather than 2x.

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Japan to Heathrow

While Heathrow flights are three-quarters of what they were, the airport still has the second-highest number of Japanese flights to Europe. Between January and March, the following will operate, based on the latest schedules information as of November 14th:

1. Japan Airlines: 2x daily Tokyo Haneda to London Heathrow; 777-300ER, 787-8
2. All Nippon: 1x daily Tokyo Haneda to London Heathrow; 777-300ER
3. British Airways: 1x daily Tokyo Haneda to London Heathrow; 787-9, 787-8

The market remains down because of British Airways. Unlike in Q1 2020, the carrier has neither routes between London Heathrow to Osaka (only operated March 2019-March 2020) nor Tokyo Narita (for years until March 2020). Haneda, meanwhile, has about the same number of flights as before, with BA’s Tokyo service as a whole is at just 55% of what it was.

Istanbul-Japan flights are up by 56%

It is perhaps unsurprising that Istanbul is the only one of the top ten airports that have more Japanese services than previously. They are up by 56% versus Q1 2020 when Turkish Airlines ‘only’ served Tokyo Narita.

It has increased for two reasons. Firstly, Turkish Airlines will serve Haneda and Narita concurrently for the first time. Secondly, fellow Star Alliance airline ANA has scheduled a 1x daily Haneda-Istanbul service from March 26th, although it is not bookable when writing. It means that, when combined, Istanbul-Tokyo will now have up to 3x daily flights.

What do you make of it all? Let us know in the comments.