All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) passengers departing from Japanese airports should keep in mind that the cut-off time for check-in and security is set to change.
From October 27, ANA’s international flight passengers departing from Tokyo Haneda Airport will need to finish check-in 60 minutes before departure. Currently, the cut-off time for check-in is 40 minutes before flight departure.
At the same time, both ANA and Japan Airlines have announced the change in security check cut-off time for domestic flights. Domestic flight passengers departing from all Japanese domestic airports will need to finish the security check 20 minutes before departure. This change will also come into effect on October 27 this year.
Currently, in nearly all Japan’s domestic airports, the security check cut-off time is 15 minutes before departure, except Tokyo Haneda Airport where the security check cut-off time has already been changed to 20 minutes since December last year.
JAL says the change also applies to its codeshare flights operated by Fuji Dream Airlines and Amakusa Airlines, Japanese regional airlines.
The reason for the changes is not specified, although the press release from Japan Airlines reads: “As the number of travellers to Japan is forecasted to reach historic levels in the year 2020, the carrier is taking proactive steps to improve the infrastructures at Japan domestic airports.”
Masaki Yokai, senior vice president of ANA, also said: “To prepare for 2020 and beyond, we aim to adopt various measures to create the best possible experience for our most valuable customers.”
Recently, some airlines have announced new flight arrangements related to the two airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area: Air Asia X will launch new Kuala Lumpur-Tokyo Narita service this November; United will add services between four US cities and Tokyo Haneda Airport; and Delta will shift all its Tokyo flights from Narita Airport to Haneda Airport from March 2020.
