Airline Profile: All Nippon Airways

All Nippon Airways is one of the world's top ten passenger carriers, operating an extensive scheduled network which serves over fifty domestic and twenty overseas destinations in Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania. Cargo and charter services are also flown.

The company is wholly owned by the ANA Group, which also owns or has interests in several Japanese airlines, including Air Central, Air Hokkaido, Air Japan, Air Next, Air Nippon, Air Nippon Network and ANA & JP Express.

History

Incorporated as Nippon Helicopter and Aeroplane Co. Ltd. In 1957, a merger with Far Eastern Airlines saw the creation of All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (ANA).

The company’s early growth was aided by the acquisition of a number domestic competitors, including Fujita Airlines (1963), Nakanihon Air Services (1965) and Nagasaki Airways (1967). By the late 1960s, ANA had become Japan's leading domestic carrier.

ANA was the launch customer in 1978 for the short-range, high capacity, Boeing 747SR, an aircraft optimised for the Japanese domestic market.

ANA was a minority shareholder in the 1978 creation of Japan’s first all cargo airline, NCA Nippon Cargo Airlines.

ANA began scheduled international services with a flight between Tokyo and Guam in 1986 and now serves destinations in Asia, Europe and North America.

The Asian economic crisis of 1997, led ANA to implement a four year corporate plan which aimed to return the company to profitability. Measures taken included executive pay cuts, reorganising the route network, reducing interest bearing debt, deferring aircraft orders, strengthening international services through code-sharing and becoming a founder member of the Star Alliance in October 1999.

Losses continued and in September 2000, ANA temporarily suspended its services from Osaka Kansai to London Heathrow and Frankfurt; both routes were subsequently reintroduced.

“ANA All Nippon Airways” branding was introduced in 2002.

In 2004, ANA became the launch customer for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

In July 2005, ANA sold off its interest in NCA Nippon Cargo Airlines.

“ANA Business Jet“ is an extension of the carrier’s “Club ANA” business class offering, introduced on 25 March 2007, using dedicated Boeing 737-700ERs. Initial daily services linked Nagoya with Guangzhou, followed by Tokyo to Mumbai on1 September 2007.

ANA & JP Express is a joint venture subsidiary which introduced cargo services to China and other Asian destinations on 15 May 2007.

On 27 March 2008 ANA became the launch customer for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, with an order for 15 MRJ90s and options on 10 more.

Fleet

• 29x Airbus A320 Family
• 2x Boeing 737
• 15x Boeing 747
• 59x Boeing 767
• 43x Boeing 777

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