All Nippon Airways facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.
全日本空輸株式会社
Zen Nippon Kūyu Kabushiki-gaisha

An All Nippon Airways Boeing 787-9
Founded	27 December 1952; 72 years ago (1952-12-27) (as Japan Helicopter and Aeroplane)
Hubs	Tokyo–Haneda Tokyo–Narita
Secondary hubs	Osaka–Itami Osaka–Kansai
Focus cities	Fukuoka Nagoya–Centrair Naha Sapporo–Chitose
Frequent-flyer program	ANA Mileage Club
Alliance	Star Alliance
Subsidiaries	ANA Wings Air Japan Peach Aviation
Fleet size	216
Destinations	92
Parent company	ANA Holdings Inc.
Headquarters	Shiodome City Center Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Key people	Shinya Katanozaka (Chairman, ANA Holdings) Koji Shibata (ANA Chairman & ANA Holdings President & CEO) Shinichi Inoue (ANA President & CEO)
Revenue	¥1.020 trillion (2022)
Operating income	¥-29.090 billion (2022)
Net income	¥-142.239 billion (2022)
Total assets	¥3.218 trillion (2022)
Total equity	¥803.415 billion (2022)
Employees	42,196 (2022)

All Nippon Airways (ANA) is a major airline from Japan. Its main office is in Minato, Tokyo. ANA flies to many places both inside Japan and around the world. It is the largest airline in Japan. As of March 2024, about 12,800 people work for ANA. The airline joined the Star Alliance group in October 1999.

ANA also owns several smaller airlines. These include ANA Wings (for regional flights), Air Japan, and Peach. Peach is a low-cost airline that offers cheaper flights.

History of ANA

How ANA Started

Founders of Japan Helicopter and Aeroplane Transports with a Bell 47D-1 helicopter.

ANA began as a company called Japan Helicopter and Aeroplane Transports Company. It was started on December 27, 1952. This company's name was the source of ANA's airline code, NH.

A Boeing 737-200 in ANA's older "Mohican Livery" from the 1960s to 1983.

The first ANA logo was inspired by Leonardo's aerial screw. It was changed in 1982.

Japan Helicopter started flying helicopters in February 1953. Their first cargo flight was on December 15, 1953. It flew between Osaka and Tokyo using a de Havilland Dove plane. This was the first time a Japanese pilot flew a scheduled flight after World War II. Passenger flights on the same route began in February 1954. By 1955, Douglas DC-3 planes were also flying for the airline. In December 1957, the company changed its name to All Nippon Airways.

Another airline, Far East Airlines, started on December 26, 1952. It began flying cargo between Osaka and Tokyo in January 1954. Far East Airlines joined with All Nippon Airways in March 1958. This made them Japan's biggest private airline. The new company used the name All Nippon Airways.

Flying Only in Japan

ANA grew a lot in the 1960s. They added new planes like the Vickers Viscount and the Fokker F27. In October 1961, ANA's shares were first sold on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In 1963, ANA merged with another airline called Fujita Airlines.

An ANA Boeing 747SR-81 at Perth Airport in the mid-1980s.

In 1965, ANA started using its first jet plane, the Boeing 727. This plane flew on the Tokyo-Sapporo route. ANA also started using Japan's first turboprop plane, the NAMC YS-11, in 1965. By 1974, ANA had the largest network of domestic flights in Japan.

For a long time, the Japanese government only allowed Japan Airlines (JAL) to fly international scheduled flights. ANA was only allowed to fly international charter flights. Its first international charter flight was a Boeing 727 from Tokyo to Hong Kong in February 1971.

ANA planes in the early 1990s: Boeing 747SR, Lockheed L-1011-1 TriStar, and Airbus A320-200.

ANA bought its first large planes, six Lockheed L-1011s, in November 1971. These planes started flying on the Tokyo-Okinawa route in 1974. Later, Boeing 747-200s were added in 1976. Boeing 767s began flying in 1983.

Flying Around the World

An ANA Boeing 737-500 at New Chitose Airport. An ANA Boeing 777-200 is landing in the background.

In 1986, ANA started flying regular international flights. This ended JAL's monopoly as the only Japanese airline flying internationally. On March 3, 1986, ANA began scheduled passenger service from Tokyo to Guam. Flights to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. followed later that year.

ANA slowly added more international flights. They flew to Beijing, Dalian, Hong Kong, and Sydney in 1987. Flights to London and Saipan started in 1989. In 1990, they added Paris, and in 1991, New York and Singapore. ANA joined the Star Alliance in October 1999.

Two ANA Boeing 747-400Ds at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport).

In 2004, ANA's profits were higher than JAL's for the first time. That year, ANA decided to replace some of its large planes with more smaller ones. This was to use new airport space better.

ANA also started a low-cost airline called Air Next in 2004. In 2005, ANA sold its share in Nippon Cargo Airlines. This allowed ANA to focus on its own cargo business. In 2006, ANA and other companies started ANA & JP Express (AJV) for cargo flights.

An ANA Boeing 777-300ER at London Heathrow Airport in 2024.

Air Transport World magazine named ANA its "Airline of the Year" in 2007. In 2009, ANA started a new international flight idea called "Inspiration of JAPAN." This included new cabin designs for its planes.

In July 2011, ANA and AirAsia created a low-cost airline called AirAsia Japan. It was based at Narita International Airport. ANA owned 51% of the shares. This airline lasted until October 2013. It was then renamed Vanilla Air. In March 2018, ANA announced that Vanilla Air would merge with Peach Aviation.

In January 2019, ANA Holdings bought a 9.5% share in PAL Holdings. This is the company that owns Philippine Airlines.

ANA's Main Company

ANA Holdings Inc. was created in April 2013. This was because the airline industry was changing. The new company oversees over 70 other companies. These include All Nippon Airways, low-cost airlines like Peach Aviation, and companies that handle catering and ground services.

ANA's Leaders

The Shiodome City Center in Minato, Tokyo, where ANA Holdings has its main office.

All Nippon Airways has been led by a President and CEO since April 2013. The chairman of All Nippon Airways became the chairman of the main holding company.

The current President and CEO is Shinichi Inoue, who started in 2022.

Where ANA is Based

All Nippon Airways has its main office in the Shiodome City Center in Minato, Tokyo.

In the past, ANA's headquarters were in different places. From the 1970s to the late 1990s, it was in the Kasumigaseki Building. Before moving to its current location, the company was at Tokyo International Airport. The Shiodome City Center building opened in 2003, and ANA moved its headquarters there.

ANA's Other Companies

A chart showing companies in the ANA Group.

The ANA Group includes many companies that ANA owns or has a big share in. These include:

• Commercial Airlines
  • Air Japan
  • ANA Wings
  • Air Do (ANA is a major shareholder)
  • Peach (fully owned by ANA)
  • Philippine Airlines (ANA owns 9.5%)
  • Vietnam Airlines (ANA owns 5.62%)
  • IFTA (a flight training academy)
  • Pan Am Flight Academy

• Other Businesses
  • All Nippon Helicopter (for the public broadcaster NHK)
  • IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan (ANA has a small share)

The Utility Center building, which used to be ANA's headquarters at Tokyo International Airport.

Some airlines that used to be part of the ANA Group have merged or stopped operations. For example, AirAsia Japan and Vanilla Air merged into Peach Aviation.

Cargo Flights

A Boeing 767-300BCF cargo plane of Allex Cargo.

As of July 2025, ANA has eight cargo planes. These include Boeing 767-300(BCF), Boeing 767-300F, and Boeing 777F aircraft. ANA's cargo planes fly on 18 international routes and 6 domestic routes.

ANA has a special cargo hub at Naha Airport in Okinawa. Cargo planes arrive there from Japan, China, and Southeast Asia in the early morning. Then they fly back out, allowing for overnight delivery services.

ANA Cargo also works with United Parcel Service (UPS) from the United States. They have an agreement to transport each other's cargo.

In March 2023, ANA Holdings announced it would buy all shares of Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA). ANA is also thinking about combining ANA Cargo and NCA in the future.

Where ANA Flies

ANA operations at its destinations, Haneda Airport (left) and Itami Airport (right)

ANA has a large network of flights within Japan. It covers the whole country, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. ANA's international flights go to China, Korea, India, Southeast Asia, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Australia, and Western Europe.

Its main international hub is Narita International Airport. However, Haneda Airport is also becoming a big international hub. This is because it is very close to downtown Tokyo.

ANA's international flights mostly focus on business travel. Its only remaining "resort" routes are to Honolulu from Haneda and Narita. ANA plans to offer more resort flights in the future through its low-cost airline, Peach Aviation.

Airline Partnerships

ANA works with other airlines through agreements.

• Interline agreements: These allow passengers to book flights on different airlines as part of one trip. ANA has interline agreements with airlines like Air Astana, Batik Air Malaysia, Emirates, Royal Brunei Airlines, and Uzbekistan Airways.

• Codeshare agreements: This means two or more airlines share the same flight. You might buy a ticket from ANA, but the plane is operated by another airline. ANA has codeshare agreements with many airlines, including Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, Asiana Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, Lufthansa, Philippine Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines.

• Joint Ventures: ANA has deeper partnerships with Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. These are called joint ventures.

ANA's Planes

Current Fleet

As of May 2025, All Nippon Airways uses these planes:

Gallery of Current Planes

• All Nippon Airways current fleet
• 

  Airbus A320neo

• 

  Airbus A321-200

• 

  Airbus A321neo

• 

  Airbus A380-800

• 

  Boeing 737-800

• 

  Boeing 767-300ER

• 

  Boeing 777-200

• 

  Boeing 777-200ER

• 

  Boeing 777-300

• 

  Boeing 777-300ER

• 

  Boeing 787-8

• 

  Boeing 787-9

• 

  Boeing 787-10

• ANA Cargo current fleet
• 

  Boeing 767-300BCF

• 

  Boeing 767-300F

• 

  Boeing 777F

Boeing 787 Dreamliner

ANA was the first airline to order the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. They ordered 50 of these planes in April 2004. ANA received its first Boeing 787 on September 21, 2011. This was the very first Dreamliner delivered anywhere in the world.

ANA flew its first Boeing 787 passenger flight on October 26, 2011. It was a special flight from Tokyo Narita to Hong Kong. ANA also became the second airline to get the Boeing 787-9 on July 28, 2014.

Planes ANA Used to Fly

An All Nippon Airways Boeing 747-400 and a Boeing 737-700ER at Narita Airport in 2010. Both types are no longer used by ANA.

The NAMC YS-11 was an important plane for ANA. Most of them were used by ANA's subsidiary, Air Nippon. The last YS-11 stopped flying in 2006.

ANA also used the Airbus A321-100 for almost ten years. The last flight of this plane was on February 29, 2008.

All Nippon Airways has used many different types of planes over the years. Some of these include various models of Boeing 727, Boeing 737, and Boeing 747 aircraft. They also flew planes like the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar.

Gallery of Former Planes

• All Nippon Airways former fleet
• 

  Airbus A320-200

• 

  Airbus A321-100

• 

  Boeing 727-100

• 

  Boeing 727-200

• 

  Boeing 737-200

• 

  Boeing 737-500

• 

  Boeing 737-700

• 

  Boeing 747SR-100

• 

  Boeing 747-200B

• 

  Boeing 747-400

• 

  Boeing 747-400D

• 

  Boeing 767-200

• 

  Boeing 767-300

• 

  Fokker F27 Friendship

• 

  Fokker 50

• 

  Lockheed L-1011 Tristar

• 

  NAMC YS-11

Plane Designs (Liveries)

Older Designs

ANA used to have a "Mohican" design. It had blue and white stripes on the plane's body. The tail was blue with the old ANA logo. All planes with this design have either been retired or repainted.

In 1982, ANA started using the "Triton blue" design. This one has a white and grey body. There is a blue stripe under the windows. The tail is blue with the word ANA written sideways. After joining Star Alliance, ANA updated this design.

Current Designs

ANA still uses the "Triton blue" design today. It was updated slightly in 2010. The Japanese flag was moved near the ANA logo. The slogan "Inspiration of Japan" was also added.

Special Plane Designs

Many ANA planes have had special designs over the years:

• Seven planes have the Star Alliance design.
• Twelve planes have Pokémon themes.
• Four planes have Star Wars themes. These include an R2-D2 design, a BB-8 design, a mix of R2-D2 and BB-8, and a C-3PO design.
• All three Airbus A380s have ANA Flying Honu designs. Honu means 'sea turtle' in Hawaiian.
• Six planes have Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba themes.
• Two Boeing 787s and one De Havilland Canada DHC-8 400 have the ANA Future Promise design. This promotes flying in a way that is better for the environment.

• 

  Airbus A321-100 in Landscape of Japan design

• 

  Airbus A380-800 in Flying Honu design

• 

  Boeing 737-700 in Gold Jet design

• 

  Boeing 737-800 in Star Alliance design

• 

  Boeing 737-800 in Tohoku Flower Jet design

• 

  Boeing 747-400 in special Pokémon (Hoenn) design

• 

  Boeing 747-400 in special Yellow Pokémon (Hoenn) design

• ANA JA8963 ("Marine Jumbo"),left side at Tokyo International Airport 19930925.jpg

  Boeing 747-400D in Marine Jumbo design

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  Boeing 767-300 in Star Alliance design

• 

  Boeing 747-400D in Pokémon Pocket Monsters design

• 

  Boeing 767-300 in Marine Jumbo Jr design

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  Boeing 767-300 in Yume Jet You & Me design

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  ANA Boeing 767-300ER in panda design

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  Boeing 767-300 in Retro design

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  Boeing 767-300ER in Star Wars design

• 

  Boeing 767-300ER in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba design

• 

  Boeing 777-200 in 777 design

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  ANA Boeing 777-200 in Star Alliance design

• 

  Boeing 777-200ER in The New Tokyo 2020 design

• 

  Boeing 777-200ER in Star Wars C-3PO design

• 

  Boeing 777-200ER in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba design

• 

  Boeing 777-300 in "Wind" design

• 

  Boeing 777-300 in special Pokémon (Unova) design

• 

  Boeing 777-300ER in Star Wars BB-8 design

• 

  Boeing 777-300ER in Pokémon (Eevee) design

• 

  Boeing 787-8 in special 787 launch design

• 

  Boeing 787-8 in special 787 launch design

• 

  Boeing 787-8 in Future Promise design

• 

  Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in Star Wars R2-D2 design

• 

  Boeing 787-9 in Star Alliance design

• 

  Boeing 787-9 in Pokémon design

Services on Board

New Cabin Features

ANA "Inspiration of Japan" first class on a Boeing 777-300ER.

In 2009, ANA introduced its "Inspiration of Japan" cabin design. This included business class seats that could lie completely flat. First class seats were almost like private suites. Economy class seats had fixed backs.

The new design also brought a new entertainment system. It allowed passengers to connect their iPods. They could also order food and shop from their seats.

An older ANA "Inspiration of Japan" economy class on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The "Inspiration of Japan" idea was first used on the Tokyo-New York route. It has since been added to other international flights. Since February 2010, ANA has offered women's-only restrooms on international flights. The first Boeing 787 planes ANA received had bidets in both economy and business class restrooms.

Inflight Magazine

ANA's magazine on planes is called Wingspan. You can read it on board or download it as an app for Apple's iPad. The iPad version is called Virtual Airport. It has content from Wingspan and links for booking flights.

Awards and Recognition

On June 24, 2024, ANA was named the Best Airport Services in the World by Skytrax. It also won Best Airline Staff Service in Asia. The airline was also a runner-up for Best Cabin Staff in the World and Cleanest Airline in the World.

Safety Incidents

A few incidents have happened with ANA flights over the years.

• On August 12, 1958, a Douglas DC-3 crashed near Toshima, killing all 33 people on board.
• On March 16, 1960, a Douglas DC-3 collided with a Japan Air Self-Defense Force jet on the ground. Three people on the DC-3 died.
• On February 4, 1966, All Nippon Airways Flight 60, a Boeing 727, crashed into Tokyo Bay. All 133 people on board died. After this, all passenger planes in Japan had to have cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders.
• On July 30, 1971, All Nippon Airways Flight 58, a Boeing 727-200, collided with a military jet during a training flight. All 162 people on the 727 died.
• On June 22, 1995, All Nippon Airways Flight 857, a Boeing 747SR, was hijacked. Police stormed the plane and arrested the hijacker.
• On July 23, 1999, a man hijacked All Nippon Airways Flight 61 and harmed the captain. Other crew members stopped him. No passengers or other crew were hurt.

Flight 1603 [ja] after landing.

• On March 13, 2007, All Nippon Airways Flight 1603, a Bombardier Dash 8, landed without its front landing gear. No one among the 60 people on board was injured.
• On September 6, 2011, Flight 140, a 737-700, suddenly tilted sharply in the air. The co-pilot accidentally moved the wrong switch. The plane was brought back under control, and only two flight attendants had minor injuries.
• On January 16, 2013, Flight 692, a Boeing 787-8, had a battery problem. The pilots made an emergency landing. Four people had minor injuries during the evacuation. After this, all 787s were temporarily stopped from flying until the battery issue was fixed.
• On January 13, 2024, Flight 1182, a Boeing 737-800, reported a crack in the cockpit window. It landed safely with no injuries.
• On May 24, 2025, Flight 114, a Boeing 787-9, had a passenger try to open an emergency door. The passenger was stopped, and the plane made an emergency landing.

See also

In Spanish: All Nippon Airways para niños

• Aviation
• Air transport in Japan
• List of airports in Japan
• List of Japanese companies
• Transport in Japan