Tokyo : For some, travelling for business is a perk. For others, it is a chore. Business-class privileges can make all the difference in this perception—especially for people who travel often.
As Japan pursues more foreign direct investment and a more prominent role as a global business hub, the number of travellers coming and going from its shores has steadily increased. Demand for luxury air travel is high, and events such as the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Rugby World Cup 2019 will only put more pressure on the nation’s airports.
As a result, many airlines have added more flights and new routes in and out of Japan. ACUMEN spoke with three carriers about their offerings to find out how they are easing the burden on business travellers.
Routes to Japan
As one of the UK’s most famous airlines, British Airways (BA) provides one of Europe’s largest long-haul fleets and most far-reaching global networks. The airline operates two daily flights from Tokyo—one each from the centrally located Haneda International Airport and Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture—to Heathrow Airport, providing its customers with greater choice and flexibility.
Those options grew even larger this month with the addition of a service to Western Japan.
“Our newest route from Japan is the Kansai-to-London service, which commenced operations on 1 April and flies four times a week between London and Osaka,” said Moran Birger, BA regional commercial manager for Japan and Korea.
Another European airline that has been providing flights to Japan for many years is Finnair. The flag carrier of Finland first connected Helsinki and Tokyo in 1983 and added Osaka to its network in 1995, Nagoya in 2006, and Fukuoka in 2016. There are plans to add Sapporo to that list in December when Finnair launches a new direct route between Helsinki Airport and New Chitose Airport.
“The geographical location of Helsinki makes air travel very smooth. Most European cities don’t have direct flights to Japan, so a stop in Helsinki is usually the fastest route,” said Hiroaki Nagahara, general manager for Finnair Japan. “British Airways, Japan Airlines and Iberia are in joint business with Finnair, with BA putting their code on most of the Finnair flights between Japan and Helsinki, and Helsinki and London”.
Middle East carriers are also renowned for luxury, and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has flown two routes to Japan from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since 2010. “These routes were introduced to cater for local demand among those travelling between Abu Dhabi and Japan, and to provide connectivity to our global network via our Abu Dhabi hub,” explained Etihad’s General Manager for Japan, Norio Inaba. “The Tokyo and Nagoya markets are served daily on next-generation Boeing 787 aircraft”.
Customer care
Both the Boeing 787 and Airbus 380 jets operated by Etihad offer business-class guests an exclusive experience. “On the A380s and 787s, our new Business Studios provide 20% more personal space than previous business-class seats, offering a luxurious standard usually associated with the industry’s first-class travel,” explained Inaba. “The next-generation Etihad Airways Business Studio offers business-class guests a space where they can truly work, rest and play”.
With a 22-inch wide reclining lounge chair, people can enjoy a relaxing and roomy flight with electronic seat controls and in-seat massagers. The 18-inch TV monitor and noise-cancelling headsets deliver high-quality in-flight entertainment. In addition, anytime dining is available on long-haul flights and there is a food and beverage manager who can make recommendations from the menu.
Finnair’s business class also offers a variety of advantages. Full-flat business-class seats can fully recline for a restful flight, and travellers have access to a complimentary lounge. They also have priority for checking in, going through security control and boarding, to ensure the process is smooth and timely.
“On the new fleet Airbus 350, there is humidity control, cleaner air and a quieter cabin to benefit all passengers. In particular, business-class travellers can enjoy a signature chef meal and full-flat business-class seats, which transform into a 200cm-long horizontal bed to ensure that all business-class passengers can enjoy a good night’s sleep,” Nagahara explained.
