All Nippon Airways Extends Narita-Chennai Flight Suspension Until March 2027

All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest airline, has announced an extension of the suspension of its direct flight route between Narita and Chennai (NH825/NH826) up to March 27, 2027. The update was confirmed in a company release issued on Thursday.

The airline initially suspended operations on this route from March 29 to October 24, 2026. This suspension has now been extended as part of the airline's revised flight schedule for the second half of fiscal year 2026 (FY2026), which outlines broader adjustments to its international flying network.

While the airline detailed its schedule adjustments in the corporate release, sources within the air travel industry have indicated that the ongoing suspension could be attributed to lower passenger occupancy on the route.

The prolonged suspension impacts regular travelers on the corridor. Sankari, a Chennai resident currently living on the outskirts of Tokyo, noted that she now relies on connecting flights through Singapore or Hong Kong to travel to Tokyo. Like other impacted passengers, she expressed hope that the direct service between Narita and Chennai will eventually resume.

"Airlines constantly evaluate route profitability and passenger demand when finalizing their operational schedules. For international carriers, maintaining direct routes requires sustainable occupancy levels. When demand falls short, companies must recalibrate capacity to protect their bottom line, even if it temporarily inconveniences business and leisure travelers on specific corridors." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes