At the end of the month, ANA, Star Alliance’s Japanese member carrier, will commence international flights from Haneda to Bangkok, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Singapore and Taipei (Song Shan). At the same time, both Singapore Airlines and THAI will start flying from their respective hubs in Singapore and Bangkok to Haneda, with Air Canada commencing flights from Vancouver in January 2011. These flights will complement the services which Air China, ANA and Asiana already provide to such destinations as Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul (Gimpo) and Shanghai (Hongqiao). All in all, Star Alliance member carriers will operate four out of every ten flights from Haneda.

“I am delighted to be here today to mark the opening of this new terminal and the first major expansion of international flight services from Haneda in 32 years. This new terminal provides excellent facilities for the passengers and the airlines”, said Jaan Albrecht, CEO Star Alliance. “Haneda was primarily a point-to-point airport, with a strong domestic focus and little connecting traffic. What we, as an alliance, wanted to achieve in Haneda was a seamless Star Alliance experience.”

The enlarged flight offer goes hand in hand with new airport facilities. All Star Alliance member carriers at Haneda will co-locate both check-in and ticketing in the new International Terminal, being the only alliance to offer such a service at Haneda. Star Alliance First and Business Class and Star Alliance Gold Card customers are invited to use the new ANA lounge facilities featuring a variety of food and beverages, along with wireless internet access and showers.

A Common Baggage Service Facility (CBSF) can be found in the arrivals area as the single point of contact for any baggage enquiry.

Transfers between international arrivals and domestic flights to the 36 destinations served by ANA from Haneda have also been improved, with customers benefiting from a baggage re-check area located just after customs.

Passengers connecting from domestic Japanese airports to international flights at Haneda, can now check-in to their final destination at their originating airport, no longer needing to collect and recheck their baggage at Haneda. This has allowed the minimum connecting time for domestic to international to be reduced by 10 minutes.

ANA has also been able to double the size of its Domestic Terminal, allowing for more check-in kiosks, check-in counters, security check points and baggage claim facilities. In addition, new lounge facilities and dedicated security check points for top customers are now also available.

Haneda is the third Move under one Roof project which Star Alliance has completed under the leadership of ANA in Japan, after Narita and Nagoya’s Centrair Airport.