QANTAS: Direct flights Melbounre/Tokyo (Haneda) resume

Three years ago, due to the pandemic, these flights were suspended, but have now resumed as of Sunday 26 March.

Direct 11-hour flights on the A330 operate four days per week (Tues, Wed, Fri, Sun) leaving Melbourne at 11:30 am and arriving in Haneda at 8pm. Prices can vary widely but expect a range of AU $1,500 to over AU $3,000 in Economy and for Business Class AU$8,000 to over AU$11,000. Flying into Haneda rather than Narita shaves around 2 hours off your transit into Tokyo.

Why so high?

Because Qantas offers the only direct flights between Melbourne and Tokyo. If you want to find cheaper, then go indirect, and you can get Business Class prices mainly on other airlines for between AU$3,000 and AU$4,000 and economy from just under AU$1,000 to AU$1,500.

“We’d like to thank the Victorian Government and Melbourne Airport for their support on the launch of this route.”

Andrew David, Qantas Domestic and International CEO

That’s code for taxpayers paying to gain this service for Melbourne, as is Melbourne Airport to get the traffic from Qantas.

Qantas and Jetstar operate a maximum of 35 return flights per week from Australia to Japan, including Qantas’ flights from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney to Haneda and Jetstar from Cairns and the Gold Coast to Narita and Osaka.

2PAXfly Takeout

Japan is a great destination for Australians. Everything works incredibly efficiently, and the locals are friendly. It’s not a cheap destination, but you can still find a range of accommodation at different price points. And of course, there is the snow, and the cherry blossom, and the onsens and the food, and the ancient capital of Kyoto, and the Geisha and the spectacular gardens.

Qantas provides the most efficient and direct way to get to Tokyo from Australia. However, since they have a current monopoly, that convenience comes at a price. Fares with a stopover on other airlines are much cheaper in all classes.

If you are going to travel with Qantas – do it today, or at least before the Double Status Credits or Points promotion ends at midnight on 28 March 2023.