After four and a half years, the only direct flight between Japan and Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, has finally started (in the past, Scandinavian Airlines operated the Narita-Stockholm route; currently only ANA operates this route). (In the past, Scandinavian Airlines operated the Narita-Stockholm route, but currently only ANA does so).
ANA’s Haneda-Stockholm route (January 31-March 29, 2025)
Flight NH221: Haneda (00:30) to Stockholm (06:20), operated on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday
NH222: Departs Stockholm (09:35) – Haneda (07:20), operated on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
As previously reported, this winter saw the opening of three new routes for ANA: Haneda to Milan (December 3, 2024), and now Haneda to Stockholm (January 31, 2025) and Haneda to Istanbul (February 12, 2025).
In addition, the Paris and Munich routes were made daily in July 2024, and the Vienna route was resumed in August with three round-trips per week, and although not at the pre-Corona disaster level (e.g., the Narita-Dusseldorf route is suspended), it has recovered steadily. With the addition of the three new routes, ANA’s European route network has expanded to 49 weekly flights to nine destinations in eight countries (London, Frankfurt, Brussels, Paris, Munich, Vienna, Milan, Stockholm, and Istanbul).
The Stockholm route is expected to generate approximately 70% of demand for connections between Japan and Europe, and approximately 50% for business demand based on connections, making it possible to use ANA’s interline agreement with Scandinavian Airlines and other airlines to travel around Northern Europe and access various European cities starting from Stockholm (however, ANA and Scandinavian Airlines are not in the same alliance and do not have code-share agreements). (However, ANA and Scandinavian Airlines are in different alliances and do not code-share.)
On February 4 (local time), ANA held a commemorative party at a hotel in Stockholm city center. Government agencies, the tourism industry, the cargo business, and the Airport Authority were invited to the party, which was attended by approximately 160 people.
Mr. Shinichi Inoue, President and Representative Director of All Nippon Airways, who delivered a speech on behalf of the organizers, said that the opening of the Japan-Sweden route is not just a means of transportation, but “a symbol of the strong friendship and deep partnership between our two countries,” and expressed his gratitude and respect with the Swedish toast “Skål!
The guests of honor, Mr. Hideaki Mizukoshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Sweden, Mr. Jonas Abrahamsson, CEO of Swedavia Airport Authority, and Mr. Johan Davidson, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Housing and Secretary of State, Sweden, expressed their delight at the launch of the new service and also spoke about the more than 150 years of diplomatic relations with Japan and the importance of the Japanese market, the second largest export market in Asia. He also spoke about the importance of the Japanese market, which is the second largest export destination in Asia.
ANA’s Haneda-Stockholm route also plays a major role as a cargo network (Japan’s pharmaceuticals, while Scandinavia has needs for salmon, pharmaceuticals, automotive-related products, precision instruments, toys, etc.), and according to Johan, the Swedish government has decided to abolish “aviation taxes” on July 1, 2025, which He expects that competitiveness will increase as demand for air travel increases, stimulating trade and commercial activity and reducing travel costs.
In response to the Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership by the leaders of Japan and Sweden last December, Ambassador Mizukoshi said, “The launch of ANA’s direct flights is very timely as strong cooperation is being promoted in a wide range of fields, including security, economy, and science and technology. He also mentioned that the Osaka-Kansai Expo is scheduled to open in April, and that among the approximately 150 countries participating, he would like to focus on the “Nordic Pavilion,” a pavilion that embodies the beautiful design and sustainability of the Kingdom of Sweden.
According to ANA, the reservation rate for the Haneda – Stockholm route from January to March is 80%. Although the ratio of inbound travelers is higher than that of Japanese travelers (6:4), the route is operated three times a week during the winter season, when travel demand normally declines, and yet “the reservation rate is exceptionally high. After the party, All Nippon Airways Stockholm Branch Manager Mr. Tadashi Okazaki, who spoke to the media, said, “There was some anxiety at one point when the pandemic caused us to abandon the plan, but we managed to adjust the environment and launch the flights at the right time. It was a great feeling to hear customers say, “We’ve been waiting for this! I am very happy to hear our customers say, “We’ve been waiting for this!
Sweden’s best season is coming in the spring and summer, and the weather will become more comfortable. The appeal I would like to convey to Japanese travelers is simply this: “It is a neat and orderly place, with beautiful buildings, scenery, people, nature, food, and everything else. For Japanese people, it is a cozy and relaxing place. On the other hand, since Sweden has short summers and long winters, Mr. Okazaki said, “I felt gratitude for the sun,” which is something that Japan does not have.
There are also many wintertime activities in the suburbs, such as Northern Lights observation, dog sledding, and staying at an ice hotel, and he recommends using Stockholm as a hub for a tour of Northern Europe, including Oslo and Copenhagen. He also recommends that visitors use Stockholm as a hub for tours of Oslo, Copenhagen, and other Scandinavian cities.
The following day, President Inoue held a conference for European media, where he gave a presentation on ANA’s in-flight services and classes, as well as tourist attractions in Japan and how to spend the season. At the end of the conference, President Inoue gave an interview to the Japanese media, commenting, “Sweden is still considered a white spot in Scandinavia, but in fact it has many attractions, and I felt that it is an advanced country in terms of high standard of living and working style. He reflected on his two days in Sweden, saying that he had learned a lot not only from the enjoyment of sightseeing but also from the perspective of “leading a happy life,” and that he “felt a lot of potential.
© Source travel watch
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