ALL Nippon Airways (ANA) is likely to resume services to Australia after a 16-year hiatus, according to trade sources, with the Japanese carrier expected to start flying from Tokyo to Sydney as early as this winter.
A formal announcement is expected in the coming weeks, reveal sources.
ANA is expected to put a 215-seat Boeing 787-9 on the route, operating daily flights between the two cities.
However, the airline has declined to confirm this development.
“I cannot confirm any of the reports, but I can say that ANA has always been watching Australia and we see it as a strong candidate for our next new route,” Maho Ito, a spokeswoman for the airline said.
Should ANA resume flights on this route, further pressure will be placed on existing operators. Qantas is transferring its Sydney flights to Haneda International Airport, which benefits from being closer to central Tokyo, while also operating a daily A330 flight from Brisbane to the Japanese capital.
Japan Airlines has daily services from Sydney to Narita International Airport, which is less attractive as a departure or arrivals point for travellers than Haneda.
The number of Australians travelling to Japan has surged in recent times, thanks to a weaker yen and the popularity of winter sports destinations such as Hokkaido.
