12 Oct 2000 All Nippon Airways (ANA) is pushing ahead with plans to launch a new international airline.
If ANA receives government approval, it will launch Air Japan services on January 1 next year.
Initially, services will connect Osaka (Kansai) and Seoul using Boeing 767-300s.
ANA will handle maintenance and sales for the new airline and will codeshare on Air Japan flights.
ANA chief executive Kichisaburo Nomura said that ANA’s international route network is being reorganised to boost profitability. “Air Japan is part of our overall strategy.
By gradually transferring to Air Japan selected short and medium-haul routes currently operated by ANA, and by reorganising ANA’s international route network at our Narita and Kansai hubs, we will be able to improve network efficiency, profitability and connectivity.
“This will result in a more competitive and flexible ANA Group in which the different airlines can meet specific network needs,” said Nomura.
Air Japan has plans to extend its routes to Guam and Honolulu ex Osaka and to expand Asia/Pacific operations from Tokyo after the completion of Narita’s second runway in 2002. – Ian Jarrett