First time in Japan for ITA Airways, flight to Tokyo Haneda takes off
Today, November 5, ITA Airways marks a new date on its young history with a red circle. The A350 dedicated to Alessandro [...]
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Today, Nov. 5, ITA Airways marks with a red circle a new date On his young history. The A350 dedicated to Alessandro Del Piero, the last one to enter the fleet, took off a few minutes after 3 p.m. in the direction of Tokyo.
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Not only is this the first time for ITA Airways in Japan, but it is also The first scheduled connection of an Italian airline with Tokyo Haneda Airport., the closest to the center of Japan's capital city, and is the only direct link between the two countries.
Before the Covid, Alitalia flew daily from Fiumicino and Malpensa to Tokyo by landing at Narita. Then, in late 2019, two major announcements had come. Alitalia would move its Fiumicino flight to Haneda and ANA, All Nippo Airlines, would open direct Tokyo-Milan connection.
Too bad then the pandemic changed things completely e - special flights for Olympic athletes aside-there have been no more flights between the two countries from March 2020 to the present, November 5, 2022.
The ceremony
Blue carpet, ribbon cutting and commemorative cake, as for the Inaugural flight of A350 dedicated to Roberto Baggio last June 2, today ITA also decided to celebrate this event in the best way.
Even the choice of the A350 dedicated to Del Piero, the historic Juventus captain, must not have been accidental: many Italian champions are famous in Japan, and Pinturicchio is among the best-known of them all in the Land of the Rising Sun. Each of ITA's 22 aircraft will have the name of a great Italian sports champion on the fuselage, from Baggio to Enzo Ferrari: here is the complete list.
After the ribbon cutting and that of the dedicated cake, it was time for boarding.
The first flight was attended by some members of the company's management team, and a number of super guests such as the two general managers of the made-in-Italy cruise giants-Costa's Zanetti and MSC's Massa. Cruises are potentially a big customer for airlines, and ITA took this opportunity to showcase itself with many companies in the leisure sector.
Flying to Japan
Since the Japan finally announced the reopening of borders to non-essential travel without any restrictions, prices to fly to the Rising Sun nation have skyrocketed with all airlines.
In addition to the border issue, there is, of course, also the issue of routes: with the closure of Russia and Ukraine's airspace, all carriers based in central and northern Europe are forced to lengthen routes even two hours, or venture (as Finnair did) extreme routes such as following the polar route.
To fly to Japan you need nothing, or almost nothing. If you are fully vaccinated, which for Japan means having received at least one booster dose, nothing else is needed. If you have not completed the vaccination cycle, a negative PCR swab is invce required.
Upon arrival in Tokyo, or any other international airport or port, Italian citizens will be able to obtain a visa directly at the airport that allows for a stay of up to 90 days.
To simplify the incoming procedures, you must also pre-register on the Visit Japan online platform.
Once one's profile is created, where all planned trips will be contained, you will need to complete the three required steps: travel details, travel documents, and vaccination details.
The procedure is step-by-step, you have to complete the first one to move on to the next one. In case of remote verification, you will have to wait for the green light from the platform. I did everything two nights before departure and in less than 60 minutes completed the whole procedure and received the okay.
N.B. Since there is a human check of some entered documents, priority is given to passengers who have the most imminent departure.
ITA Airways and Japan
Tokyo and Japan in general have always been one of the few profitable routes for Alitalia. The appeal of our country in the Rising Sun, the presence of a large number of local passengers interested in flying to Italy has always filled the planes. That's why we used to fly also from Milan and not only from Rome, precisely because the demand was very high. It was, I think I am not mistaken, the only flight where there were also flight attendants based in Japan, so they could better interact with the people on board.
The surprise of the people I met at the airport. I disembarked from my flight from Genoa and went to two transit desks to get a paper boarding pass, and when asked "Where do you fly?" I answered "ITA" both clerks looked at me as if I were an alien and retorted "But not direct, where will you stop over?" Even when I did a trip to the Premium Plaza in Terminal 3 the attendants smiled at the sight of the destination and said, "Tokyo finally starts again, how nice!"
It is to be expected that sooner or later ANA will also decide to (re)open the announced route at the end of 2019; in the meantime. ITA will be a monopolist on this route, with 3 flights per week on Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday from Italy to Japan and Sunday/Wednesday/Friday the return flight arriving in the evening in Rome. With the summer schedule they are likely to grow to daily, although to do so the carrier will have to wait for delivery of the A330/900neo or change flight operations from those in summer 2022.
This is the seventh intercontinental route for ITA: next to go will be India from Dec. 3 and the Maldives, with the Flight to Male to be activated for the Christmas vacation period and will continue until Easter.
