Celebrating a Decade of Brussels-Tokyo Connections ANA's Brussels team reflects on 10 years of linking Belgium and Japan
This latest installment of “A New Chapter of Flight” takes us to Belgium, where ANA recently celebrated a decade of connecting Brussels and Tokyo.
On Oct. 25, 2015, ANA launched its inaugural flight between Brussels Airport (BRU) and Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT). Beginning March 2, 2026, ANA increased service to three weekly flights linking Belgium and Japan.
We spoke with Marie-Noëlle Verheyen, administration manager at ANA BRU, who shared her insights into ANA’s history in Brussels.
Launching a new route
Verheyen’s journey with ANA began 30 years ago when she joined the ANA BRU team in 1996.
“When I joined ANA, I was very excited because I knew a little about Japan,” she said. “At the time, we were completely unknown in Belgium.”
For nearly two decades, Verheyen and her colleagues worked diligently to build ANA's presence in Brussels as an offline station — operating without a direct flight route — before that work finally paid off with the launch of service between Brussels and Tokyo.
“When the route was finally announced, it was a relief for me and the beginning of an adventure full of emotions,” she added. “I can still vividly picture the aircraft arriving on the tarmac on Oct. 25, 2015.”
Meet the ANA Brussels team
The ANA BRU team is a small but cohesive group of 12 local employees, built on strong communication and mutual respect.
“The phrase that best describes our office is ‘Unity is strength,’ which also happens to be Belgium’s motto in Dutch: Eendracht maakt macht,” said Verheyen. “We foster a culture of mutual support, readily assisting colleagues across different departments.”
While technical skills are important, Verheyen also emphasizes the value of hiring candidates with a diverse mindset and strong cultural fit.
The 2016 Brussels terrorist attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic left a lasting mark on the team, but navigating those challenges together helped strengthen their bonds and shape the close-knit culture that defines ANA BRU today.
Taking off into the future
Beyond ANA’s increased flight frequencies to Brussels, 2026 also marks 160 years of friendship and diplomatic relations between Belgium and Japan — making this a milestone year on multiple fronts.
With a shared appreciation for rich and diverse cultures, the ANA BRU team looks forward to welcoming more travelers eager to experience everything both countries have to offer.
“Belgians offer a warm welcome, along with the country’s rich heritage through cities like Brussels and Bruges,” said Verheyen. “Belgian gastronomy is of course another highlight, famous for its chocolate, waffles and hundreds of different beers.”
With more weekly flights now connecting Brussels and Tokyo, the team remains committed to delivering the safe, seamless travel experience ANA is known for — one flight at a time.