Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (NH) will reintroduce its connections to mainland China from Tokyo Haneda for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. From April 1st, the carrier will connect Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND) to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA).
All Nippon Airways has already reintroduced operations from its second base at Tokyo Narita to China. However, from April 1st, Chinese connections from Haneda will also be back in action. The carrier paused flights from here in March 2020, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Haneda to Beijing and Shanghai
ANA will start daily flights from Haneda to Beijing Capital and Shanghai airports from April 1st, operating daily flights to these cities. However, on April 3rd and 6th, ANA will not run its Haneda to Beijing Capital service. From April 7th, the carrier will return to its daily service.
Increased demand and relaxed border restrictions have increased demand on the route, leading to the carrier reintroducing the connection after a three-year hiatus. Japan ended its strict COVID-19 testing for visitors from mainland China earlier this month, following reintroduced restrictions from Japan's border for Chinese following a surge in cases in December 2022.
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JAL also joined the party
Japan's other leading airline, JAL Japan Airlines (JL), also reintroduced Chinese operations from Tokyo Haneda earlier in March, citing increased demand as a factor in the reintroduction of the service. The carrier maintains a daily operation to Beijing Capital operating a Boeing 787-8.
All Nippon will operate the below schedule to both Beijing and Shanghai:
Tokyo Haneda to Beijing Capital return
- NH961, departing from Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND) at 08:55, arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) at noon. Block time of 4hr5mins. It is operated by Boeing 787-8.
- NH962, departing from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) at 15:10, arriving at Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND) at 19:45. Block time of 3hr35mins. Operated by Boeing 787-8.
Tokyo Haneda to Shanghai Pudong return
- NH967, departing from Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND) at 22:30, arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) at 00:35 the next day. Block time of 3hr5mins. Operated by Boeing 787-9.
- NH968, departing from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) at 01:35, arriving at Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND) at 05:30. Block time of 2hr55mins. Operated by Boeing 787-9.
Tokyo Haneda to Shanghai Hongqiao return
- NH969, departing from Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND) at 10:05, arriving at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) at 12:15. Block time of 3hr10mins. Operated by Boeing 787-8.
- NH970, departing from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) at 13:35, arriving at Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND) at 17:25. Block time of 2hr50mins. Operated by Boeing 787-8.
Narita, on the other hand, already maintains a robust schedule to mainland China, below I have noted its operations to Beijing and Shanghai as below:
- Air China, serving Beijing Capital and Shanghai Pudong
- All Nippon Airways, serving Beijing Capital and Shanghai Pudong
- China Eastern, serving Shanghai Pudong
- Japan Airlines, serving Beijing Capital and Shanghai Pudong
- Jetstar Japan, serving Shanghai Pudong
- Spring Airlines serving Shanghai Pudong