British Airways will move its Tokyo Narita flights across to Tokyo's Haneda airport from the end of March. This will mean that the British flag carrier will consolidate its Tokyo operations to just one airport.

Like many cities around the world, Tokyo has more than one airport. The smaller Haneda Airport is closer to the city center, but due to its size is more limited in its operational capabilities. Meanwhile, Tokyo's Narita Airport is much further from the city, however, is also much larger. As such, Handea has more appeal while being harder to secures slots for.

March move

British Airways currently operates two daily flights to Tokyo. One to Haneda and one to Narita. However, according to God Save The Points, British Airways will move its Narita flight to join its Haneda flight from the 28th of March. This will tie in with the start of the IATA Summer 2020 season. The British Airways booking engine also confirms the change.

British Airways, Tokyo, Haneda
British Airways will operate twice-daily flights to Haneda from the 28th of January. Image: BA.com

British Airways told us that the move would mean that customers are more easily able to transfer onto partner JAL's domestic network which largely operates from Haneda. However, it will also mean that passengers are much closer to the city center when they arrive in Japan's capital.

Speaking to Simple Flying, a British Airways representative said:

"We are excited we will be operating a second daily flight into Tokyo Haneda Airport where our partner JAL operate the majority of their domestic flights. Our customers can look forward to better connectivity between the UK and Japan, faster access ​into the city of Tokyo, and newly refurbished partner lounges at Haneda."

British Airways, Tokyo, Haneda
Tokyo's Haneda Airport is much closer to the city center than Narita Airport. Photo: Open Street Map/Simple Flying

The new schedule

From the 28th of March, both of British Airways' daily flights to Tokyo will go to Haneda Airport. They will operate to the following schedule:

  • BA007 will depart from London Heathrow (LHR) at 10:55. Following an 11-hour 40-minute flight, the Boeing 777 will touch down in Tokyo Haneda (HND) at 07:35 the next day.
  • BA008 will depart from Tokyo at 09:35. 12-hours and 20-minutes later, the Boeing 777 will touch back down in London at 13:55.
  • BA005 will depart from London Heathrow at 13:55. Following a slightly longer 12 hour flight, the Boeing 787 will touch down in Tokyo at 10:55 the next day,
  • BA006 will depart from Tokyo at 13:15. The Boeing 787 will touch back down in London at 17:25.

Will you find the second British Airways flight to Haneda a huge advantage? Or will you maybe miss being able to fly to Narita? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!