Tag Archives: ANA

ANA announces two new Star Wars™ themed logo jets

ANA (All Nippon Airways) (Tokyo) is building on its previous R2-D2 Star Wars Boeing 787-9 logo jet announcement, with this follow-up announcement announcing two additional Star Wars logo jets:

ANA, Japan’s largest airline, today announced that two more of its planes will be decorated with Star Wars characters as part of an agreement with The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. BB-8, a brand new character from Star Wars: The Force Awakens scheduled for theatrical release in December 2015, will be displayed on the livery of the BB-8™ ANA Jet, a Boeing 777-300 ER (below).

Image: ANA.

ANA also announced the Star Wars™ ANA Jet, which will showcase both BB-8 and R2-D2 on the outside of a Boeing 767-300 (below). These Star Wars themed planes will join the previously announced R2-D2™ ANA Jet, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Through this combination of characters, ANA hopes to welcome more passengers of all ages from around the world.

Image: ANA.

ANA launched the Star Wars Project in April 2015 after signing a five year promotion license contract for the Star Wars brand with The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. As part of the agreement, the ANA Star Wars planes’ will also display in-flight decorations, such as headrest covers, paper napkins and cups featuring Star Wars characters – more details will be announced at a later date. The partnership also means ANA will be the only airline in the world to offer all six of the currently released Star Wars films as part of its extensive in-flight entertainment options on international routes. This will be the first time that any of the Star Wars movies have been included as part of an in-flight entertainment system.

The three Star Wars™ Jets will fly international and domestic routes. On October 18, the R2-D2™ ANA Jet is scheduled to go into service on international routes, initially as flight NH116 between Tokyo and Vancouver, and then fly between Japan and other cities in ANA’s robust international network including the US (Seattle and San Jose), Europe (Munich, Paris and Brussels), Australia (Sydney), China (Beijing), and Indonesia (Jakarta).

In November, the Star Wars™ ANA Jet will fly domestic Japanese routes, and then in March 2016 the BB-8™ ANA Jet is scheduled to start serving international routes principally between Japan and North America (the exact routes have yet to be announced)[3]. Fans will be able to see the planes’ schedules at www.ana-sw.com.

ANA aircraft slide show:

Delta issues this statement regarding the Skymark Airlines’ creditors choice of ANA for the recovery

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has issued this statement about the choice of ANA (All Nippon Airways) (Tokyo) to lead the recovery of bankrupt Skymark Airlines (Tokyo):

Creditors have chosen ANA, Japan’s largest airline, to sponsor financially troubled Skymark Airlines’ rehabilitation. Skymark is Japan’s third-largest airline.

Delta had offered to back an alternative plan, an indication of its commitment to serving the region.

Masaru Morimoto, Delta’s managing director of Japan, thanked Skymark’s creditors and business partners for their support of the Creditors’ Rehabilitation Plan. The company said while Delta will not be able to support Skymark as a sponsor airline, Delta’s desire remains for Skymark to recover as one of the three largest Japanese airlines.

“Delta’s strategy in Japan remains strong and the company will continue its ongoing focus on improving the customer experience and network offerings,” he said.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-332 ER N196DN (msn 28453) approaches the runway at Narita International Airport (NRT) near Tokyo.

Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show (current livery):

ANA wins out over the Delta/Intrepid bid for Skymark Airlines

From our partner ZipanguFlyer in Japan:

On August 5, the creditors of bankrupt Skymark Airlines (Tokyo) approved the bankruptcy reorganization plan backed by ANA Holdings, the parent of ANA-All Nippon Airways (Tokyo), over the Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) sponsored proposal submitted by the largest Skymark creditor, Intrepid Aviation.

ANA has agreed to buy the undelivered Skymark Airbus A380s to gain support from Airbus and Rolls-Royce.

If finally approved, ANA and JAL will directly or indirectly control 100% of the domestic market at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and 97% of the domestic market according to ZipanguFlyer.

Read the full story: CLICK HERE

Top Photo: Airbus. Can ANA operate the Airbus A380 in Japan profitably? ANA needed the support of Skymark creditors Airbus and Rolls-Royce to win out over ANA.

Skymark Airlines aircraft slide show:

Video: The making of the first Skymark Airbus A330:

Skymark Airlines/ANA and Intrepid Aviation both given the go-ahead by the bankruptcy court, now the creditors must decide

Skymark Airlines‘ (Tokyo) proposed alliance and rescue by ANA-All Nippon Airways (Tokyo) has been approved by the bankruptcy court. However Intrepid Aviation’s alternative proposal (without ANA) has also been approved. Now the creditors will have to pick between the two rescue plans.

Read the full report by our partner ZipanguFlyer: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Michael B. ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Skymark Airlines Boeing 737-8HX JA737N (man 36845) arrives at Tokyo (Narita).

Skymark Airlines aircraft slide how:

ANA inaugurates the Houston – Tokyo Narita route

ANA – All Nippon Airways (Tokyo) today launched its new Houston (Bush Intercontinental) route to Tokyo (Narita). The airport issued this statement:

Following a ribbon cutting and sake ceremony, the inaugural flight of All Nippon Airway’s (ANA) newest route bound for Tokyo Narita Airport, departed Houston George Bush International Airport this morning (June 12) – underscoring the global importance of the city of Houston.

A member of the Star Alliance and joint venture partner with United Airlines, ANA expanded its nonstop service to Houston, providing passengers with additional daily flights between Houston and Tokyo. Star Alliance members can now choose a morning or afternoon departure in each direction, providing greater flexibility for travelers, especially those taking advantage of ANA’s expanded service to other Asian and American destinations beyond Houston or Tokyo.

The Boeing 777-300 ER used for today’s flight was welcomed to the gate with an official water turret salute. The 250-seat passenger plane includes eight first class and 52 business class seats to accommodate travelers.

Today’s ceremony began with a Taiko Japanese drum performance by local group, Kaminari Taiko. Diaz and Shinobe each addressed the attendees, and they were joined by additional remarks from Jim Compton, United Airlines Vice Chairman and Chief Revenue Officer, and the Honorable Nozomu Takaoka, Consul-General of Japan in Houston and Bob Pertierra, SVP and Chief Economic Development Officer, Greater Houston Partnership. Also in attendance from the office of the Governor of Texas was Oliver Yang, there to present Shinobe with a proclamation. In a gift exchange honoring Texas and Japanese culture, Diaz presented Shinobe with a Stetson cowboy hat and Shinobe reciprocated with an ANA Boeing 777 model plane.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-381 ER JA778A (msn 32651) arrives at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT).

ANA aircraft slide show:

Video: ANA time-lapse video from the cockpit from Tokyo Haneda to Toyama

New video from ANA.

Skymark Airlines and Intrepid file rival reorganization plans

Skymark Airlines‘ (Tokyo) biggest creditor Intrepid, which is opposing ANA’s (Tokyo) involvement in the Skymark reorganization plan, also submitted a rival reorganization plan on May 29. The plan states Integral would be the primary sponsor, but it would select an alternative airline partner other than ANA. The U.S.-based leasing firm is already talking with Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) according to ZipanguFlyer.

Read the full report from our partner ZipanguFlyer: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Akira Uekawa/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8Q8 JA737T (msn 35290) approaches the runway at Tokyo (Haneda).

Skymark Airlines aircraft slide show:

ANA drops Tokyo Narita – Paris CDG, up-gauges Tokyo Haneda

ANA (All Nippon Airways) (Tokyo) will drop the daily Tokyo (Narita) – Paris (CDG) route on October 25. Instead the carrier will up-gauge the current Boeing 787-8 Tokyo (Haneda) – Paris (CDG) route to the larger 787-9 according to ZipanguFlyer.

Read the full story: CLICK HERE

ANA aircraft slide show:

ANA is coming to Brussels

ANA-All Nippon Airways (Tokyo) has announced it will launch the Tokyo (Narita) – Brussels route starting on October 25.

Read the full report from ZipanguFlyer: CLICK HERE

In other news, Jetstar Japan launched the Tokyo (Narita) – Hong Kong route today (June 1).

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. The aircraft type for the new route was not specified. It is likely to be either the pictured Boeing 777-381 ER or the newer Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. JA780A (msn 34895) departs from Los Angeles International Airport.

ANA aircraft slide show:

Airbus and Intrepid to reject the ANA/Skymark Airlines deal

Skymark Airlines‘ (Tokyo) two biggest creditors, Intrepid Aviation and Airbus, have informed the bankruptcy court that they will reject a rescue plan involving ANA-All Nippon Airways (Tokyo) according to ZipanguFlyer.

Read the full story: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo below: Akira Uekawa/AirlinersGallery.com. Skylark was an Airbus A330-300 operator and was planning to add the larger A380. The pictured A330-343 JA330B (msn 1491) climbs away from Haneda Airport.

Skymark aircraft slide show: