LHR to Tokyo to return ……pending approval

Once regulatory approval is given by Japan VS intend to start flying back to Tokyo - but this time to Haneda airport.
The intention was always to move to Haneda but their was a regulation that if they did that they must still maintain the NRT route. To get round that NRT was pulled and a new application made to fly to HND (thereby a new route) and not subject to the 'both airports' rule.

That would be great. Do you have a link for any announcement please ?

There has not been an announcement and I doubt there will be one imminently. Just remember you heard it on VFlyer first !

This would be superb! I've never been and would love to go; I still have DragonLady's pointers, Bretty's notes regarding Inside Japan Tours and various other members posts all saved in an Evernote.

Great news! Although it'll come a little late for us as we're off to Japan in a couple of weeks, incidentally doing a two week Spring elegance tour with Inside Japan Tours. Is Bretty's info posted somewhere so I can have a read?

Many thanks!

Matt

These are the threads I have saved:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=289538&p=901141&hilit=japan#p901141

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=272642&p=799846&hilit=japan#p799846

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=272654&p=799895&hilit=japan#p799895

Thanks Mike - Some really excellent info there. Thanks to all who contributed.

We've had this trip booked for almost a year and really can't wait, we've never been before and judging by how much everyone raves about it, we should be in for a great couple of weeks!

Definitely some positive new if true, but wasn't NRT initially cancelled as it wasn't making money? If so, what would be different with HND? Or was this just a cover up for their intention to later reapply to HND only?

Kreeger axed it as he said that the bulk of pax originated in Japan (something like 75%) and as such weren't of strategic value to the rest of the VS network. He had also mentioned the poor Japanese economy and low yen all being drivers of the pull out. The low yen was a big driver given the more Japan originating pax.

So whats changed in 2 years to address those issues apart from a very small rise in the yen to gbp?

Thanks Mike - Some really excellent info there. Thanks to all who contributed.

We've had this trip booked for almost a year and really can't wait, we've never been before and judging by how much everyone raves about it, we should be in for a great couple of weeks!

Blimey , I 'd forgotten how much I'd written !!! Hopefully it's been of use
Japan is a fantastic place I'd love to see VS back there
DL

Time for an overshare... when I saw the title of this thread I got so excited I did a little wee
It would be great if VS were to start flying again to TYO, but given the reasons they stopped flying, which was last year and not 2 years ago (and announced I think around September 2014), I'm not going to hold my breath.

Can the OP give any provenance to his post, if there's been no announcement and not likely to be one imminently, is the source of your info reliable?

I for one would definitely fly the route again with VS if it were to return in the next 12 months. As it stands I'm building a bank of Avios and a BA Amex 241 voucher for the purpose of returning to Japan, and my OH and I have recently agreed on Autumn 2017 as the time to visit.

IF VS reinstates the route and there is good reward availability (as there previously used to be), the Avios and 241 can be repurposed to another trip elsewhere. I'd love to hope this is more than a rumour.

I like bretty got a bit too excited but also a bit gutted as we have just managed to get a flight with BA in Feb next year for the Sapporo ice festival.
Long term though if they do actually return to flying to Tokyo we will definitely return to flying with VS. BA CW just isnt the same .

This is very exciting if true! My OH, who is definitely not as into the miles game as I am, frequently asks me if VS will be starting up a Tokyo route again. Fingers crossed We plan to go this year but I doubt it will be before any announcements are made.

Time for an overshare... when I saw the title of this thread I got so excited I did a little wee
It would be great if VS were to start flying again to TYO, but given the reasons they stopped flying, which was last year and not 2 years ago (and announced I think around September 2014), I'm not going to hold my breath.

Can the OP give any provenance to his post, if there's been no announcement and not likely to be one imminently, is the source of your info reliable?

I for one would definitely fly the route again with VS if it were to return in the next 12 months. As it stands I'm building a bank of Avios and a BA Amex 241 voucher for the purpose of returning to Japan, and my OH and I have recently agreed on Autumn 2017 as the time to visit.

IF VS reinstates the route and there is good reward availability (as there previously used to be), the Avios and 241 can be repurposed to another trip elsewhere. I'd love to hope this is more than a rumour.

NRT was fine for domestic connections to CTS and OSA on the excellent NH (who even used to redeem FC Miles!), but HND is much closer to central Tokyo . If VS does go back, let's hope there's a business case for a Clubhouse too!

Is this still in the pipeline?