New Sydney-Tokyo service takes off with All Nippon Airways

28 January 2020

  • All Nippon Airways (ANA) will add a second daily Sydney service to Haneda, Tokyo from March 2020
  • New service represents increase of 180,000 seats to the route and expected to grow Japanese visitor arrivals by 36,000 annually
  • Boost to NSW economy estimated to reach $72m every year, with Japan the fastest-growing market for Sydney Airport

Sydney Airport has welcomed a boost to its schedule of direct flights to Japan, thanks to the launch of a second daily Sydney to Haneda service with ANA.

Hugh Wehby, Chief Operating Officer, Sydney Airport, said the new service would tap into the demand for two-way travel between Japan and Australia.

“Japan has grown to become a favourite destination for Australians who recognise the unique culture, cuisine and nightlife, with Japan now the 8th ranked destination for Sydneysiders’ overseas trips,” he said.

“It’s also clear that Japan’s love-affair with Sydney has continued with Japanese visitors firmly entrenched in our top five list of international visitors.

Despite Japan being a mature market, in the 12 months to September 2019 it was our fastest growing, with the number of Japanese residents visiting Sydney increasing by 34 percent.”

ANA’s Ryo Sadayuki, Managing Director, Australia/Oceania Region & GM, Sydney said:

“ANA are thrilled to be the first airline with a double daily departure from Sydney to Tokyo.

“2020 is going to be a significant year for tourism to Japan and our new schedule provides us with the opportunity to introduce more customers to ANA’s 5 star quality products and services, as well as generate more travellers not only to Tokyo but other regions with our convenient onward domestic connections.”

The new service will be serviced by a 246-seat Boeing 787-9 and will augment the existing daily ANA service to Haneda launched in 2015.

To launch the route ANA will be offering sale fares from 28 January starting at $725 return, including taxes and fees, for travel between 29 March and 30 November 2020.

The new service will bring to four the total number of daily flights between Sydney and Haneda, with Qantas also operating a daily service and Japanese Airlines (JAL) set to switch its daily Tokyo Narita service to Haneda from 29 March 2020.

Flight Schedule

Sydney-Tokto schedule

Facts and Figures

  • New service to add approximately 180,000 annual seats to the Tokyo-Sydney route
  • Expected to generate additional 36,000 Japanese visitor arrivals annually
  • Increase in seat supply will potentially grow Japanese expenditure in NSW by $72m per annum. (Japanese expenditure in NSW is currently $402m annually).
  • Late 1990s passenger split – 90 percent Japanese resident, 10 percent Australian/other
  • 2019 passenger split – 51 percent Japanese resident, 43 percent Australian, 7 percent ‘other’
  • In the 12 months to September 2019 Japanese resident arrivals grew by 34 percent, Australian resident departures to Japan grew by 14 percent
  • Passenger growth on the Sydney-Japan route has increased at a compound annual rate of 15 percent over the four years to September 2019.
  • Breakdown of travel purpose of Sydney to Japan route – 68 percent leisure, 14 percent business, 11 percent visiting friends and relatives, 7 percent ‘other’