Japan Airlines (JAL) has revealed that it will be halving its Melbourne-Tokyo (Narita) flights for most of this year.

According to JAL Group’s recently released 2025 (northern) summer schedule, the Japanese national carrier will reduce its Melbourne-Tokyo service from six flights per week to just three flights between 30 March and 25 October 2025. 

The new schedule will see JAL operate flight JL774 between Melbourne and Tokyo on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday,  with the return leg, JL774, to fly on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. 

Japan Airlines jets at Tokyo Narita Airport.
Japan Airlines jets at Tokyo Narita Airport.

The airline will add four extra services each way in April (April 4,11,18, 25 to Narita and April 3,10,17, 24 to Melbourne).

JAL will continue to use its B787-8 Dreamliner on the route.

Japan Airlines’ Sydney-Tokyo Haneda service (JL51/52) remains the same.

The biggest change in JAL’s network is the addition of a daily Tokyo Narita to Chicago service commencing 31 May 2025. 

Travel boom

A tourist in Tokyo.A tourist in Tokyo.
A tourist in Tokyo.

For the most part, growth in air capacity has reflected the burgeoning demand for travel to Japan. For instance, Qantas revealed a new route to Hokkaido just last week, while All Nippon Airways (ANA) recently announced it will transition its Perth-Tokyo (Narita) flights from a seasonal to a year-round service in March 2025.

Despite this, demand hasn’t been unabated. In July, Virgin Australia announced it would be winding up its Cairns-Tokyo flights in February 2025, less than two months after commencing services in mid-2023.

A Japan Airlines A350-900 at Tokyo Haneda.A Japan Airlines A350-900 at Tokyo Haneda.
A Japan Airlines A350-900 at Tokyo Haneda.

Record numbers of Australians travelled to Japan in 2024, and it’s been predicted that even more Aussies will flock to the Asian nation this year. It’s little wonder Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Executive Director for Australia Naoki Kitazawa recently called Australian travellers the country’s “most important customers”.

Check out our exclusive interview with Intrepid Travel Australia New Zealand Managing Director Brett Mitchell, who explains why Japan’s planned JESTA system could simplify travel to the country.

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