In October 2020, Star Alliance member airline All Nippon Airways announced plans to launch a new long haul airline subsidiary. The company has today revealed a lot more information, including its first route, pricing, and more. Let’s go over all the details.
In this post:
Basics of AirJapan, All Nippon Airways’ new airline
AirJapan is the name of All Nippon Airways’ new airline subsidiary, which will operate medium and long haul international routes. What should we expect from the airline?
- AirJapan will launch operations in February 2024, initially flying to Southeast Asia, and then expanding its network beyond that
- AirJapan will exclusively operate Boeing 787-8 aircraft
- AirJapan is being launched as part of a business transformation for ANA, intended to “pursue sustainable growth and the ability to quickly respond to a wider range of customer preferences”
- AirJapan won’t be a full service airline or a low cost airline, but rather will “combine the best of both worlds while also featuring Japanese-style ideas and quality” (this is questionable, as I’ll cover below)
- AirJapan’s slogan is “Fly Thoughtful,” and as it’s explained that this “expresses the airline’s caring, thoughtful, and gentle approach”
- The name AirJapan was selected in order to convey to people around the world that the airline is Japanese, and to remind customers that the airline offers “Japanese quality”
- Pricing will be similar to low cost carriers, but the airline will “provide a comfortable cabin space for all passengers”
AirJapan 787s will be in an all-economy layout
AirJapan’s Boeing 787-8s will feature 324 economy seats, with no premium cabin. Seats will have 32″ of pitch, and will be made of Japanese faux leather. Each seat will have USB-A and USB-C ports, as well as tablet holders. While there will be no seatback entertainment, AirJapan will have streaming entertainment that includes movies and TV shows.
AirJapan will have food & drinks for purchase
All AirJapan meals will be available for purchase. It will be possible to book a meal in advance for a set fee, and on top of that meals and snacks can be purchased onboard flights.
In advance, there will be a total of 13 types of meals that can be reserved, including vegetarian meals and other meals that take into consideration dietary restrictions and religions.
On top of that, there will be an extensive lineup of meals, snacks, sweets, and beverages, available onboard for purchase. It’s also funny how the airline highlights how it will contribute to the reduction of food waste by offering packaged food with longer shelf life, as well as freeze-dried products that are “made with Japan’s world-class food processing technology.”
AirJapan will also sell pillows and blankets onboard.
AirJapan will fly to Bangkok as of February 2024
AirJapan’s first route will launch as of February 9, 2024. The airline will fly 6x weekly between Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Bangkok (BKK) with the following schedule:
NQ1 Tokyo to Bangkok departing 5:55PM arriving 11:15PM
NQ2 Bangkok to Tokyo departing 12:15AM arriving 8:10AM
The flight will operate every day except Tuesdays southbound and Wednesdays northbound. The new flight is now on sale.
AirJapan pricing & fare bundles
AirJapan has revealed its pricing for the Tokyo to Bangkok route. Interestingly the airline will have three fare bands with consistent pricing (pricing doesn’t include taxes and fees, but there are no fuel surcharges):
- Simple fares will start at 15,500 JPY (~$109) each way — this includes no optional services
- Standard fares will start at 19,200 JPY (~$135) each way — this includes advance seat selection and a checked bag of up to 23kg
- Selected fares will start at 23,800 JPY (~$167) each way — this includes advance seat selection, two checked bags of up to 23kg, and an in-flight meal
I have to say, that pricing is really attractive, so at least the airline is offering value.
AirJapan flight attendant uniforms
AirJapan has revealed its planned employee uniforms. AirJapan describes the uniforms as embodying the brand’s core values of “kindness to all.” The uniforms have a borderless design, promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce by incorporating gender-neutral options and enabling variations in coordination. Flight attendants will have the options of wearing skirts or pants, and a choice of sneakers or leather shoes.
Okay, I’m not sure what exactly to make of these uniforms. They’re kind of fun, though am I the only one who thinks the second uniform from the left is one you’d also expect a massage therapist to be wearing? Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but you typically wouldn’t assume there’s much overlap between flight attendant and massage therapist uniforms.
AirJapan boarding music
As someone who loves boarding music, I appreciate the fact that AirJapan has revealed its boarding music before even launching operations. Here’s how the music is described by Noel Hiyamizu, the composer behind this:
“This ensemble piece combines Japanese and Western instruments. The music’s traditional feel is contrasted by the modern vibe produced by the fresh grooves, and the classic Japanese sounds produced by the shakuhachi and koto complement the ensemble of the Western instruments and celebrate the beginning of a new journey. The title ‘Ai’ encompasses a wide range of meanings including ‘indigo,’ ‘love,’ ‘meetings’ and ‘encounters’ in Japanese.”
This music is AWESOME!
My take on ANA’s AirJapan concept
A few initial thoughts:
- The AirJapan name is interesting, because ANA already has Air Japan, which is the subsidiary with which the airline operates many regional flights
- This new airline concept sounds to me a whole lot like ZIPAIR, which is Japan Airlines’ long haul, low cost airline that operates Boeing 787s; the major difference is that ZIPAIR has a business class product, while AirJapan will exclusively have economy
- This is for all practical purposes an ultra low cost carrier, except the airline offers decent legroom; I appreciate that, since at least the airline will offer a basic level of comfort
I’m not expecting a huge amount of innovation here, but rather just All Nippon Airways copying Japan Airlines… minus business class.
Bottom line
All Nippon Airways plans to launch a new airline in February 2024, which will be named AirJapan. The airline will operate medium and long haul routes, using Boeing 787-8s that are in a one class configuration, featuring 324 seats. While seats will have power ports, they won’t have personal entertainment, but rather will just have streaming options.
Expect AirJapan to launch in February 2024, flying initially between Tokyo Narita and Bangkok.
What do you make of ANA’s new AirJapan airline concept?
Wonder if this new carrier would consider flights from NRT to tourist destinations in Australia such as Cairns and Gold Coast?
Would be perfect to fill the void left by Jetstars cancelation of their OOL to NRT service.
Most important... What's the leg space? Most of the Chinese airlines have 28" of space. If this is the case this is a "no-go" for me. I was thinking that if there is leg space, I can buy two tickets on a o/w flight (6hrs 30min HND to BKK) and have an empty seat next to me. Still a bargain @ $330 each way!
They said they will offer 32 inches of legroom
The name is very poorly chosen. Air Japan and AirJapan will be confused by most. Consider some other close names but not as close. Air Kenya and Kenya Airways or Air China and China Airlines. Also, if the new airline will be code shared with ANA then it would be possible to have Star Alliance benefits. Consider some of the subsidiaries of Air China and China Eastern in China, for example. I wonder the pricing...
The name is very poorly chosen. Air Japan and AirJapan will be confused by most. Consider some other close names but not as close. Air Kenya and Kenya Airways or Air China and China Airlines. Also, if the new airline will be code shared with ANA then it would be possible to have Star Alliance benefits. Consider some of the subsidiaries of Air China and China Eastern in China, for example. I wonder the pricing for the extras if separately and if it would be the same price as a package. That would count to the credit card rebates that many premium cards provide.
Even if there is a codeshare with ANA, Star Alliance traditionally operates based on operating carrier. Just like Aegean/Olympic, Thai/Thai Smile, Singapore/SilkAir, etc. I wouldn't expect Star Gold benefits to transfer over to Air Japan, unless maybe if you have status from ANA or your airline's program negotiates specifically with ANA for it. (I'm aware that SilkAir is no more, and that Thai Smile is being integrated back into Thai, but those are just examples.)
It is not a new airline per se. It is the same Air Japan operating on behalf of ANA and that will be operating the new LCC flights. There will be zero Star Alliance benefits, and if we go by JAL and Zip Air, there is very little likelihood that there will be any benefits for ANA elite members.
If you like this boarding music you will love music by Andreas Vollenweider.
Would it also be part of star alliance or stand alone?
I get that Japan is quite conservative but the uniforms are just awful - pricing is very good though
As flagged by others, Air Japan and Peach (also owned by ANA) risk cannibalizing each other for a similar customer base with inevitably overlapping routes. How the parent rationalizes capacity and service will be interesting to watch as it evolves.
Having lived and also traveled to Japan quite frequently, there's been occassions where we've had to fly Peach airline (a domestic discount airline) to reach certain locations.
Have to say, Japan does discount airlines pretty good. Have also flown domestic first in JAL and ANA and those are really nice too.
Looking at the pricing and the details, it seems like a good option.
I would've liked them to have at least a few premium seats though...
remember that the Japanese government's stated goal is to move all premium carrier Tokyo longhaul international routes to Haneda and turn Narita into a low cost carrier airport - somewhat akin to the relationship between Heathrow and Gatwick.
They have so far opened just enough capacity and created slot controls at HND to allow most of the longest haul premium/legacy flights to operate from HND but not LCCs and also not enough for Delta to...
remember that the Japanese government's stated goal is to move all premium carrier Tokyo longhaul international routes to Haneda and turn Narita into a low cost carrier airport - somewhat akin to the relationship between Heathrow and Gatwick.
They have so far opened just enough capacity and created slot controls at HND to allow most of the longest haul premium/legacy flights to operate from HND but not LCCs and also not enough for Delta to move its Narita hub; DL had to either split its Tokyo operations or end its hub and it chose the latter and is sending connecting traffic over Seoul and Korean.
The opening of ANA and JAL's widebody LCCs is part of that process. SE Asia is so big of a market that ANA and JAL are willing to compete w/ their own LCCs out of NRT but likely will not in the future. At some point, Air Japan etc will fly longhaul international routes of which the 787 is capable of doing.
Note also that the 787-8 is a high CASM aircraft which ANA would prefer to transfer to Air Japan and use for high density operations.
At some point, HND will open further and Air Japan is likely to be ANA's remaining longhaul presence at NRT.
Yes a lot more traffic at HND but what sucks is now in the city of Tokyo there are planes flying pretty low all the time on their landing at HND. There used to be no planes flying over Tokyo. Great if you love plane sporting but awfulmof you want to enjoy your life.
There is no reason to expand traffic at HND. Narita is perfectly fine and only takes a hour to get to by but or train or a $300 taxi ride.
It is not all the time, it is in very limited periods that the planes come in over central Tokyo, and compared to the noise levels of the city in general, and the politicians (and right wing nutcases) with loudspeakers in specific it is really nothing. I live and work under some of the main corridors, and while there are often politicians at the stations having loud speaches about the noise pollution from the planes,...
It is not all the time, it is in very limited periods that the planes come in over central Tokyo, and compared to the noise levels of the city in general, and the politicians (and right wing nutcases) with loudspeakers in specific it is really nothing. I live and work under some of the main corridors, and while there are often politicians at the stations having loud speaches about the noise pollution from the planes, they don't seem to appreciate the irony of the fact that they are for worse noise pollution. I did once ask one of the people passing the flyers out for a guy holding an anti Haneda speach, if they paid attention to the fact that they made far more noise than the planes. They were not amused.....
Qantas still does daily flights from MEL and BNE to NRT because they’ve only got 2 slots for HND which is exclusively for their flights to SYD.
32 inches for a seat in economy is better than most full service companies and considering that meals in economy are almost always terrible anyway so I would rather fly with them with the nice leg length and the cheaper price and give up a meal you can bring from home
They still have time to redesign the uniforms for both genders before launching the flights. The FAs look like kung-fu apprentices. Standard travels emphasize the destinations, not the journeys. If the flight is less than ten hours, we can suck it up in exchange for competitive fares and pleasant services.
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Small spelling error, entertainmnent = entertainment. Btw I use Grammarly’s free extension for good spell checking with a little bit of grammar help too.
@Ben. Yes ANA already has Air Japan. And it is the same company that is going to operate these flights. The current Air Japan has the IATA code NQ, and the new flights to Bangkok will be NQ1/2. To make things easier and quicker, ANA is using an existing AOC and experience with operating flights.
It will cause a lot of confusion, as there will still be ANA flights operated by Air Japan, which will...
@Ben. Yes ANA already has Air Japan. And it is the same company that is going to operate these flights. The current Air Japan has the IATA code NQ, and the new flights to Bangkok will be NQ1/2. To make things easier and quicker, ANA is using an existing AOC and experience with operating flights.
It will cause a lot of confusion, as there will still be ANA flights operated by Air Japan, which will be in full ANA livery and full ANA service. And then there will be Air Japan LCC flights.
Will this replace ANA flights on some routes? We have HND-SGN and SIN-NRT planned for Feb/Mar. Hope we still get our lay flat seats.
Unlikely. It will be additional capacity on existing routes to capture a segment of the market that is not profitable for main line. Or new routes that are more leisure oriented.
Agree that they're bringing value to the market, especially considering the competition in this market: ZIPAIR which has less legroom in economy, and Thai Air Asia X with the awful 9-abreast A333. Though I'll be interested in seeing how this new airline fit in with Peach (ANA's other LCC) and the "old" Air Japan. Hopefully this doesn't come at the expense of "old" Air Japan frequencies (which is a *A affiliate, has decent award availability,...
Agree that they're bringing value to the market, especially considering the competition in this market: ZIPAIR which has less legroom in economy, and Thai Air Asia X with the awful 9-abreast A333. Though I'll be interested in seeing how this new airline fit in with Peach (ANA's other LCC) and the "old" Air Japan. Hopefully this doesn't come at the expense of "old" Air Japan frequencies (which is a *A affiliate, has decent award availability, and provides a lot of the regional connectivity from NRT).
More than 4 hours without IFE is tough. Not everyone flies with an iPad or a laptop.
Agreed, but no surprise from an LCC.
What about mileage earning and redemption opportunities? I suspect it won’t be part of *A?
@ Maxi -- Correct, it won't be part of Star Alliance, and there's no mention yet of mileage earning with ANA Mileage Club (though I imagine it might still qualify?).
So, Ben, most importantly, since they’re not part of *A, there’s no threat of winding up on an AirJapan flight when redeeming miles for a NH itinerary?
I have to admit, this airline actually sounds nice. The pricing is super competitive and nobody could doubt that service on a Japanese carrier could be anything but flawless. I‘d fly them in a heartbeat.