Starting today, February 17, 2019, All Nippon Airways (ANA) operates daily flights all year long between Vienna and Tokyo-Haneda.
Japan is an important growth market for Vienna Airport and the entire economic and tourism location of Austria.
Passenger volume from Vienna to Far Eastern destinations climbed 33% in 2018. The new flight connection was officially opened today within the context of the inaugural flight attended by Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO of the airport operating company, Flughafen Wien AG, Kiyoshi Koinuma, Ambassador of Japan in Austria and Akira Nakamura, Senior Vice President EMEA of ANA. Austria and Japan are celebrating an anniversary this year, namely the first economic agreement signed by the two countries exactly 150 years ago.
Tokyo means “Eastern Capital”. As Japan’s capital city with more than nine million inhabitants, it is the most populous metropolis in the country. With 40 million inhabitants, the region around Tokyo is even the largest metropolitan in the world. Japanese visitors appreciate Austria and above all Vienna as the leading art and music metropolis in Europe. The demand for flights from Japan to Europe has also increased due to the more intensive economic relations between Japan and the European Union.
Vienna is also historically the geographical gateway to Central and Eastern Europe. The new flight connection will further strengthen relations between Japan and this dynamically developing region. Austria and Japan have maintained diplomatic relations for 150 years. In 1869 a trade and friendship treaty between the two countries was signed for the first time.
“This new destination provides further growth impetus for travelling to the Far East, where we registered a 33% increase in passenger volume last year. The region is not only an important growth market for Vienna Airport but also for the entire Austrian business and tourism location. For this reason, the launch of flight service on the new route to Tokyo is a valuable addition to the existing offering of destinations and an important step towards strengthening tourist and economic ties between Japan and Austria which have existed for 150 years”, states Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport.
Akira Nakamura, Senior Vice President, EMEA commented, “We are excited to be launching our direct flight between Vienna and Tokyo Haneda today. Our flights from Haneda and Vienna will arrive in the early morning, perfect for both business and leisure travelers to maximise their day. Furthermore, passengers can easily connect to ANA’s extensive domestic network at Haneda Airport and discover varieties of wonderful regional destinations Japan has to offer. We look forward to welcoming even more travelers from Austria to Japan with our award-winning onboard hospitality”
“I would like to warmly welcome All Nippon Airways to Vienna! There is no better time for the initial flight than to commemorate the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries. For decades Japan has ranked as one of Vienna’s most important distant markets. Last year we registered 300,000 overnight stays from Japanese visitors. The new direct flight offered by ANA represents a milestone in the air service development strategy of the Vienna Tourist Board and will contribute to our being able to continue welcoming numerous guests from Japan in the years to come”, says Norbert Kettner, Director of the Vienna Tourist Board.
In April the Vienna Tourist Board is inviting guests to attend an evening event showcasing Vienna to be held in the Austrian Embassy in Tokyo. This is designed to position the city with decision makers and will be carried out in collaboration with Viennese partners.
Daily flights from Vienna to Tokyo-Haneda all year long in the Dreamliner
Effective immediately, ANA operates daily flights between Vienna and Tokyo. The aircraft departs from Tokyo at 1:55 a.m. and arrives in Vienna at 6 a.m. The return flight from Vienna leaves at 11:50 a.m. and lands in Tokyo at 6:55 a.m. The airline deploys a state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with 215 comfortable seats in a pleasant atmosphere.
