Spain’s Iberia announced the return of nonstop flights between Madrid and Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, starting on Oct. 27, 2024. This new route reestablishes a connection first offered in 1986 before service was cut in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Scheduled flights will operate three times weekly: from Madrid on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and from Tokyo on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays. This route becomes the sole nonstop link between Spain and Japan.
According to the airline, 45,000 total seats will be available during the upcoming winter season (October 27 – March 25). Connections are possible on either end as both Iberia and Japan Airlines (JAL) are members of the oneworld alliance.
The airline plans to operate the flight with its Airbus A350 aircraft, which features a total of 348 seats, including 31 Business Class, 24 Premium Economy, and 293 Economy seats.
Russian Airspace Complications
While Russian airspace remains closed, Iberia says it has adjusted the flight’s routing. Passengers traveling round-trip will be able to do a ‘round-the-world trip.’ The outbound from Madrid to Tokyo will be done across the south and the inbound across the north, above Russia, across the Pacific Ocean, and the Arctic, the airline says.
“Our return to Tokyo is remarkable news. It represents the return of Iberia to Japan, where it began operations in 1986, and together with the recently launched direct flights to Doha, it confirms our commitment to Asia,” shared María Jesús López Solás, Iberia’s Commercial and Network Development and Alliances Director, in a press release.
“The economic growth of the countries in this continent is immense, as indicated by all the forecasts for the coming decades. At Iberia, we want to show Madrid’s potential as a gateway to Spain, the rest of Europe, and Latin America, to connect these two parts of the world,” Solás added.
