Narita”s Terminal 2 will be busy over the next few weeks with new airline arrivals from the oneworld alliance. With JAL and Qantas already established in the new facility they will be joined by American Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Finnair, all members of oneworld. The only alliance member to remain in T1 is British Airways.
The co-location of the carriers will enable them to almost halve minimum connections times between flights to as little as 60 minutes, and make the overall transfer process smoother and easier. The move is the culmination of oneworld's most significant airport consolidation project to date in the Asia-Pacific region. Between them, the alliance's five airlines that will be housed in Terminal 2 operate more than a thousand arrivals and departures a week connecting Narita with around 50 destinations worldwide.
Meantime, as its operations begin in Terminal 2, American Airlines also opens a new Admirals Club lounge there. At 13,300 sq ft (4054 sq m), this new facility is almost twice as large as the one it replaces in Terminal 1 and significantly better positioned than lounges of most other US carriers at Tokyo. Besides all the usual amenities, including showers, comfortable chairs and a bar, it offers free wireless internet access, with more than 100 ethernet ports.
Cathay Pacific will also open a new lounge as it transfers into Terminal 2. Following the design concept of The Pier, the airline's second premium lounge at its Hong Kong home, the new Narita lounge will offer passengers a stylish place to sit back and relax before they board their flight. Passengers will be able to choose food and drinks at The Long Bar, the airline's signature lounge feature, enjoy the visual entertainment in the comfortable seating area, or use one of the workstations that offer wireless internet connections.
Qantas is currently developing its own business class lounge scheduled for opening in late 2007. The exclusive space will feature a range of business services, contemporary shower and bathroom amenities as well as seating for 160, while Japan Airlines will up-grade its existing lounge facilities. Finnair will offer its customers the use of the lounges of one of its oneworld partners.
oneworld managing partner John McCulloch (pictured) said: "oneworld aims to bring the operations of our member airlines together at all key airports around the world wherever it makes sense and is possible. The addition of Japan Airlines to our alliance, coinciding with this major investment programme by Narita Airport Authority, provides us with a golden opportunity to do just this at what will be one of our most important worldwide hubs - and enable our airlines there to offer their customers a state-of-the-art passenger experience."