ANA to launch Narita – Brussels in October.

On July 1st, All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA] revealed that they will launch Tokyo/Narita [NRT/RJAA] – Brussels/Zaventem [BRU/EBBR] on October 25th (ANA announces Narita – Brussels.). It will be operated daily using 169-seat three-class Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. At the same time, their Narita – Paris/Charles de Gaulle [CDG/LFPG] route will be suspended (ANA to cancel Narita – Paris; up-gauges Haneda link.).

Boeing 787-8 JA823A at Haneda. This is a long-haul-configured Dreamliner seating 169 in a three-class layout. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

According to ANA, approximately 90,000 passengers travel from Japan to the EU capital each year, with most of them currently transferring through or using trains from Amsterdam/Schiphol [AMS/EHAM] and Paris/Charles de Gaulle.

Flight Schedule:
Narita – Brussels/Zaventem NEW 1 daily with 787-8. (2015/Oct/25 - 2016/Mar/26)
NH231 NRT 1115 – 1515 BRU 788 Daily
NH232 BRU 2050 – 1610(+1) NRT 788 Daily

Brussels becomes ANA's sixth destination in Europe after Düsseldorf [DUS/EDDL], Frankfurt/Main [FRA/EDDF], Munich [MUC/EDDM], London/Heathrow [LHR/EGLL], and Paris/Charles de Gaulle [CDG/LFPG]. Japan's largest carrier is also planning to offer onward connections using Brussels Airlines [SN/BEL], a Star Alliance partner.

Brussels Airlines' predecessor Sabena [SN/SAB] used to operate four-times-weekly Airbus A340 services between the two cities until October 28th, 2001, just over a week before closing its doors. The capital of Belgium is home to the EU and the NATO, and houses various financial institutions as well. 2015 will mark 150 years of friendship between Japan and Belgium.

Source: All Nippon Airways, July 1st. (in Japanese)

ANA announces Narita – Brussels.

On June 1st, All Nippon Airways [NH/ANA] announced that they will launch Tokyo/Narita [NRT/RJAA] – Brussels/Zaventem [BRU/EBBR] during the Winter 2015/2016 timetable, which starts on October 25th. Details of the schedule and equipment have not been released, however, it will likely be served by 169-seat three-class Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. Reinstating the link would end a 14-year hiatus since defunct Belgian flag carrier Sabena [SN/SAB] closed its doors.

Boeing 777-381/ER JA783A arrives at Narita after another long flight. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano)

Along with Düsseldorf [DUS/EDDL], Frankfurt/Main [FRA/EDDF], Munich [MUC/EDDM], London/Heathrow [LHR/EGLL], and Paris/Charles de Gaulle [CDG/LFPG], ANA's sixth non-stop destination from Japan will also be operated as part of the joint-venture (JV) with Star Alliance partners Austrian Airlines [OS/AUA], Lufthansa [LH/DLH], and Swiss International Air Lines [LX/SWR]. At Brussels, Japan's largest carrier plans on code-sharing with Brussels Airlines [SN/BEL], another Lufthansa Group airline.

Brussels Airlines' predecessor Sabena used to operate four-times-weekly services between the cities until October 28th, 2001, just over a week before shutting down. According to ANA, approximately 90,000 passengers travel from Japan to Brussels each year, with most of them transferring through or using trains from Amsterdam/Schiphol [AMS/EHAM] and Paris/Charles de Gaulle. The capital of Belgium is home to the EU and the NATO, and houses various financial institutions as well. 2015 will mark 150 years of friendship between Japan and Belgium.

Source: All Nippon Airways, June 1st. (in Japanese)