Lufthansa Group expands Japan network to 50 weekly flights for summer 2027

Lufthansa is expanding its presence in Japan, adding a daily Frankfurt-Tokyo Narita service and restoring flights to Nagoya as the German airline group increases its Japan schedule to as many as 50 flights a week next summer.

The carrier will resume its Frankfurt-Nagoya route on a three times a week basis from 29 March 2027.

At the same time, Lufthansa will add a daily Frankfurt-Narita flight from 28 March. The airline already serves Tokyo Haneda daily from both Frankfurt and Munich, giving it three daily flights between Germany and Tokyo during the summer schedule.

The additional Narita and Nagoya services will operate using Boeing 787-9s equipped with Lufthansa’s Allegris cabin. 

Each aircraft has 28 business-class seats, 28 in premium economy and 231 in economy.

Lufthansa restores Frankfurt-Nagoya route

The return to Nagoya gives Lufthansa a direct link with one of Japan’s most important industrial regions.

The city is at the centre of Aichi prefecture, a major manufacturing base and particularly important to Japan’s automotive industry. 

The route offers access to a large corporate market as well as leisure traffic, with Nagoya also offering easy access to the Japanese alps as well as an alternative gateway to Kyoto. 

Passengers from central Japan can use Frankfurt as a convenient entry point for destinations across Europe.

Flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays during the summer season.

The additional Tokyo service gives Lufthansa greater flexibility in serving the Japanese capital, with Narita – which is around an hour away from the centre of the city – and the more centrally located Haneda offering slightly different roles for the Tokyo market.

Elsewhere in the Lufthansa Group, SWISS is also increasing its Japan operation, with up to seven weekly flights between Zurich and Tokyo Narita during summer 2027.

Together, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and ITA Airways will offer as many as 50 weekly flights to four Japanese destinations: Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita, Osaka and Nagoya.

The group also has access to additional Japan capacity through its joint venture with All Nippon Airways (ANA).

Why airlines are betting on Japan

The expansion is reflective of a strong recovery in international travel demand for Japan, following the disruption caused by the pandemic.

Japan has seen a surge in inbound tourism, with visitor numbers reaching record levels as the country has benefited from strong demand from Asia, Europe and North America. 

A relatively weak yen has made Japan more affordable for many overseas visitors, while the country’s appeal as a safe, culturally fascinating leisure destination has continued to grow.

Japan also remains one of the world’s largest economies and a major centre for manufacturing, technology and other industries.

Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of Lufthansa Group, said Japan remained a “key market” for the company.

He said: “Together with our expanded Tokyo services, these investments provide our customers with more travel options and support the continued diversification of our intercontinental network. 

“As the leading European airline group in Japan, we remain committed to connecting people, cultures and economies between Europe and Japan.”

Cultivating ties with the Gulf and beyond

Earlier this week, the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) and Emirates signed a new memorandum of understanding aimed at further promoting the tourism exchange between Japan and the Middle East. 

JNTO and Emirates plan to collaborate on tourism promotions and various marketing activities. 

Emirates sees Japan as a key market and continues to invest in strengthening its network. In October 2026, the airline will increase the frequency of flights to and from Japan to a total of 28 weekly flights by adding services on the Narita route.

Additionally, Emirates is enhancing its service offerings, such as deploying the A380 aircraft on the Dubai to Kansai International Airport route.

Expansion is also taking place in Europe. Finnair will increase its services to Japan from 28 weekly flights this summer to up to 32 weekly flights next summer. 

British Airways has increased its London Heathrow to Haneda route  to double daily over the summer 2026 season, and the increased frequencies continue throughout the winter schedule.