ANA-All Nippon Airways (Tokyo) has introduced a new smartphone app to help you relax during the takeoff. Here is the official release:

A new survey, commissioned by All Nippon Airways (ANA) for the US market, has found that 72% of U.S. airline passengers have felt anxious about flying before. The most anxious flyers find takeoff to be the most stress-inducing part of the journey (68%), which is why Japan’s largest airline, ANA, developed ‘ANA Takeoff Mode’, specifically designed to relax and take people’s minds off the takeoff. The app can be downloaded for free in the Apple App store here: CLICK HERE

#ANA Launches New Smartphone App Designed to Relax Flyers During Takeoff

The ‘ANA Takeoff Mode’ app takes the form of a simple but absorbing puzzle where users have to maneuver a ball on screen to collect points, with relaxing music playing in the background. What really makes the app truly unique; however, is that it measures the amplitude and frequency response of the ambient noise inside the aircraft cabin. When the aircraft’s engines are at full throttle during takeoff, the audio profile triggers a special animation and message for the user. (The surrounding environment may affect how the app detects takeoff.)

The puzzle aspect of the game should prove particularly appealing. In the ANA survey, puzzle games ranked second only to listening to music when it came to ways that passengers relaxed while flying (61% of people relax by listening to music; 56% by playing puzzle games). Reading, watching TV and falling asleep came in not far behind (54%, 48% and 46% respectively).

The ‘ANA Takeoff Mode’ is one of the first smartphones apps to take advantage of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s announcement on October 31, 2013 that airlines can safely expand passenger use of Portable Electronic Devices during all phases of flight.

“ANA offers a unique flight experience with staff paying attention to even the smallest detail to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable flight for all our customers. Consideration has gone into every stage of the passenger journey, from our flagship lounges in Tokyo to our award winning ‘Connoisseurs’ inflight dining experience. Now we hope that the ‘ANA Takeoff Mode’ will ease and relax flyers, allowing them to enjoy their flight with ANA from the very beginning.” said Masaki Yokai, VP Marketing & Sales The Americas.

Additional key findings from the ANA survey:

Women are about twice as likely to be anxious about flying

Of the subgroup who almost always get anxious about flying, 63% are women, 37% men

Older people (45 yrs+) are much calmer about flying than younger people (18-44yrs)

Of the always anxious group 66% are younger than 45 yrs old

Of the calm group 47% are younger than 45 yrs old

Anxious flyers are most concerned about takeoff (68%), whereas people who get stressed about flying less frequently find the thought of turbulence more anxiety inducing (60%)

80% of people surveyed play puzzle games

97% of these people find such games to be relaxing

46% of people say they find flying during Thanksgiving or Christmas period more stressful than other times of the year

Top reasons for this extra stress are crowded airports (69%) and delayed flights (63%)

Information on the survey:

ANA commissioned an online survey of 1,000 air travelers from across the U.S. The survey was fielded from October 29 to November 2, 2014.

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