Photo/Illutration Passengers board a flight to Hong Kong on July 19, the first international flight in more than three years departing from Terminal 2 of Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. (Go Takahashi)

To support the recovering demand in tourism, Terminal 2 of Tokyo’s Haneda Airport reopened for international flights after more than three years.

An All Nippon Airways flight to Hong Kong departed from the terminal on the morning of July 19, the first international flight from the terminal in three years and three months.

The COVID-19 pandemic shut down international lobbies at the second terminal in April 2020, less than two weeks after they had opened.

ANA’s international flights to and from Haneda recovered to pre-pandemic levels in July, overwhelming Terminal 3, which is for international passengers only, according to the airline.

Three of the eight international boarding gates at the terminal have reopened for five flights a day to Taipei, Shanghai, Hong Kong and London.

Terminal 2, which mainly handles domestic flights, will accommodate passengers transferring elsewhere in Japan.

Airlines also expect more tourists will use Terminal 2 as they travel from Japan to other countries.

“Hawaii is a particularly popular destination, with more than 90 percent of passenger seats already occupied in June,” said ANA President Shinichi Inoue.

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