Despite facing a weakened yen, Japanese airline ANA has managed to sustain high occupancy levels on its Thailand-Japan routes, matching the robust figures seen in 2019. The passenger composition has notably seen an increase in Thai tourists and long-haul travelers transiting through Japan.
Daishi Yoshihara, the general manager for Thailand, highlighted Thailand as one of ANA’s most resilient routes in the Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia regions post-pandemic, alongside Singapore and Shanghai.
While the depreciating yen has attracted more Thai and international tourists to Japan, it has made outbound travel from Japan costlier due to unfavorable exchange rates for Japanese nationals.
Currently operating three daily flights using Boeing 787 series aircraft between Bangkok and Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda airports, ANA’s flight frequency has slightly decreased from the pre-pandemic level of five daily flights.
The proportion of Thai and foreign passengers on these routes has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with Thai passengers accounting for over 20% and foreign passengers over 40%, while the percentage of Japanese passengers has declined.
Many international travelers, including those from the US, opt to transit through Japan when traveling to Southeast Asia and Thailand.
Despite challenges such as a weak yen and high fuel costs, ANA has effectively managed its fuel expenses, a major cost component for airlines, through hedging contracts. Airfare pricing trends are normalizing, although they have not yet reached the lower levels of 2019.
While ANA aims to resume five daily flights to Bangkok, uncertainties persist due to global fleet shortages, delayed aircraft deliveries, and labor shortages at airports.
In the face of growing competition from low-cost carriers expanding flights to Japan, Mr. Yoshihara remains confident, as ANA primarily caters to business travelers and passengers seeking full-service airline experiences, catering to a distinct customer segment.
Regarding Thailand’s ambition to become an aviation hub by 2030, Mr. Yoshihara sees it as a positive development, considering the country’s strategic location within Southeast Asia.
Looking ahead, ANA does not currently plan to introduce new routes beyond Bangkok, as the airline primarily targets business travelers, their core customer base, rather than tourists. Alternative destinations may be better suited for ANA Holdings’ low-cost carriers such as Peach and Air Japan.
Recently marking its 35th anniversary of operating flights between Bangkok and Tokyo, ANA holds Bangkok as its initial destination in Southeast Asia.
