All Nippon Airways Opens Stockholm-Tokyo Route

On January 31st, Japan’s largest airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), established at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. The new, intercontinental route between Stockholm and Tokyo was welcomed by an inauguration ceremony attended by Mr. Andreas Carlson, Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, H.E. Mr. Hideaki Mizukoshi, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Sweden, Mr. Jonas Abrahamsson, CEO Swedavia, and Mr. Hiroyuki Miyagawa, Executive Vice President, EMEA, ANA.

– I am very happy to welcome ANA – All Nippon Airways – to Stockholm Arlanda Airport. ANA’s investment strengthens Sweden’s connectivity and further improves our range of destinations at the airport for those traveling for business or to visit friends and family. The relationship between Japan and Sweden has a long-standing history and we have a mutual interest in the connectivity between our countries being excellent, says Jonas Abrahamsson, Swedavia’s president and CEO.

Being one of Sweden’s most important markets for trade and export, Japan is Sweden’s second largest trading partner in Asia with close to 150 Swedish companies – both major corporations and start-up companies – operating in the country. Sweden in turn is the largest Nordic export market for Japan, and roughly 180 Japanese companies have operations in Sweden.

New Routes

The new route between Stockholm Arlanda and Tokyo Haneda will not only serve as an important connection to the Japanese capital, but also as an important connection to Asia, Australia and the South Pacific due to ANAs vast network. A well-functioning connectivity is most vital to industries and companies alike, as well as for those traveling for leisure and to visit family and friends.

– The new direct route will bring Japan and Sweden even closer together. It will allow families and friends to connect even more easily, as well as encourage people to explore both our beautiful countries. The new route will also deepen our dynamic bilateral relationship promoting business exchanges between our two countries, highlighted H.E. Hideaki Mizukoshi, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Sweden.

– We are delighted to launch our first non-stop flight from Sweden to Japan today, says Hiroyuki Miyagawa, Executive Vice President of ANA. As the number one network between the European region and Japan, we are strengthening Stockholm as a crucial foothold, enhancing connectivity, and fostering the revitalization of exchanges not only within Sweden but also across the Nordic region and our broader European network.

This new route complements ANA’s existing services from London, Frankfurt, Brussels, Paris, Munich, Vienna, and Milan to Japan, and ANA will soon add flights from Istanbul in February 2025.

ANA (All Nippon Airways), a member of Star Alliance, will operate the new direct route three times a week.

The route will be of great significance for the hospitality industry as well as the growing business exchange between Japan and Sweden, where important cargo will benefit from shorter and faster delivery times.